Scenarios analysis and performance assessment of blockchain integrated in 6G scenarios

Abstract

Emerging applications such as smart city infrastructures and virtual reality landscapes are setting rigorous benchmarks for 6G mobile networks, requiring elevated levels of confidentiality, integrity, non-repudiation, authentication, and stringent access controls. Blockchain technology is heralded as a transformative enabler for meeting 6G standards, owing to its intrinsic attributes. However, a gap exists in the holistic investigation of blockchain’s applicability in 6G realms, particularly addressing the “whether”, “when”, and “how” of its deployment. Present research trails in developing robust methodologies to gauge blockchain’s efficacy within 6G use cases. Addressing this, our study introduces a novel confluence of blockchain with 6G networks, where data resides in distributed Hash tables (DHTs) while their hashes are secured in distributed ledger technology (DLT), harnessing blockchain’s core strengths-immutability, traceability, and fortified security. We delineate seven specific 6G use cases poised for enhancement through blockchain integration, and scrutinize the rationale, nature, and timing of this convergence. Furthermore, we devise a comprehensive methodology for assessing blockchain’s performance metrics and scalability in 6G environments. Our extensive experimental analyses evaluate the synergistic performance of this integration, revealing that the Quorum blockchain satisfactorily supports 80% of 6G scenarios. The findings suggest that, with appropriate configurations, consortium blockchains are well-equipped to fulfill the demanding performance and scalability requisites of 6G networks.