Short Survey on Using Blockchain Technology in Modern Wireless Networks, IoT and Smart Grids

[Audio] We are glad to participate to the International conference on Cybersecurity, Cybercrimes, and Smart Emerging Technologies Our paper is entitled: Short Survey on Using Blockchain Technology in Modern Wireless Networks, IoT and Smart Grids The authors are myself Moez Krichen, Meryem Ammi, Alaeddine Mihoub and Qasem Abu Al-Haija.

[Audio] Blockchain is a cutting-edge technology that has changed the way people communicate and trade. It's a chain of blocks in a distributed and decentralized peer-to-peer ( P2P) network that stores information with digital signatures. This method was first used to develop digital currencies such as bitcoin and Ethereum..

[Audio] However, some recent research and industrial studies have focused on the prospects that blockchain presents in a variety of other application fields in order to take advantage of the technology's fundamental qualities, such as decentralization, persistency, anonymity, and audibility..

[Audio] In this study, We propose a thorough evaluation of blockchain's use in Wireless Networks, the Internet of Things ( IoT), and Smart Grids. We also present the main obstacles of Blockchain in order to allow researchers to solve them and improve the technology's use..

[Audio] A blockchain is a continuously expanding collection of data blocks linked together to form a long chain This network of connected data blocks represents a distributed ledger that is disseminated over a peer-to-peer network A distributed ledger can be seen as a collection of digital data synced, replicated, distributed, and shared through a peer-to-peer network. Each device linked to the network maintains the latest version of the common ledger, i.e., each peer in the network has a copy of the ledger that is identical to the other..

[Audio] The ledger is mainly characterized by its safety, and the database can be expanded only by adding new blocks to the chain. Changes to records already registered to the chain are computationally impossible As a result, a primary benefit of the described distributed ledger is its decentralized nature Indeed, there is no central authority that controls the ledger However, each node updates its ledger when a new block is added to the blockchain, using a joint consensus mechanism.

[Audio] Wireless applications such as broadband internet connections, mobile smartphones, and internet of vehicles all require radio spectrum Wireless networks, like cellular and Wi-Fi, are the most cost-effective way to provide broadband internet access. As a result, diverse spectrum management regimes are needed to optimize advantages from the utilization of available spectrum by mandating efficient spectrum usage while minimizing interference between consumers The traditional spectrum management regime has two major drawbacks First, large portions of the licensed spectrum are underused Second, this command-and-control spectrum management regime is slow to respond to market changes Spectrum sensing, supporting secondary spectrum trading marketplaces, spectrum sharing, and policy enforcement are all possible uses for the blockchain technology in spectrum management.

[Audio] Spectrum sensing and geo-location databases are the two leading technologies for providing dynamic spectrum access Previously, these approaches were viewed as separate strategies in previous research Because blockchain is a database technology, it may be used to create a unified method in which spectrum sensing techniques and geo-location database technology work in tandem. A more robust dynamic spectrum management framework will arise from combining these two spectrum access strategies..

[Audio] It is also necessary to investigate the integration of blockchains with the communication networks. The blockchain network could be set up as an overlay on top of the communication network, allowing communication network nodes to operate as complete nodes on the blockchain network. However, this network structure is energy-intensive and necessitates a specialized control channel for transferring blocks and transactions over blockchain networks..

[Audio] The Internet of Things is the linking of smart devices for data collection and intelligent decision-making. Yet, IoT is prone to privacy and security risks due to the absence of inherent security measures. The dispersed and centralized architecture of the Internet of Things is a significant challenge Every node in an IoT infrastructure is typically a potential point of weakness that could be used to start cyber assaults Data confidentiality and authentication are continuous and possibly one of the most serious threats IoT data could be hacked and misused if data security is not established Data integrity is another issue for IoT.

[Audio] Blockchain is the final puzzle for resolving IoT privacy and dependability issues The blockchain's inherent trustless, autonomous and decentralized characteristics make it suitable for various scenarios Blockchain technology, for example, may store a permanent record of smart gadgets Furthermore, smart contracts may allow smart devices to perform autonomously, avoiding the need for human control or centralized authority In addition, blockchain can establish a secure means for smart devices to communicate with one another.

[Audio] To summarize, the usage of blockchain for IoT applications provides excellent levels of security that prevent unwanted data access. Yet, scalability is still an open question since the blockchain can grow in size over time, making it difficult to acquire and save the ledger..

[Audio] A smart grid is a digital communications-based electrical network that provides the two-way flow of electricity and data in addition to the identification, reaction, and avoidance of changes in usage and other difficulties. Current smart grids integrate communication and control techniques into power networks, allowing considerable gains in energy efficiency and system safety. Traditional centralized techniques of managing smart grids pose significant hurdles For instance, the centralized control method creates a dangerous single point of failure for the whole grid. In addition, many security issues have been growing, and external security assaults could result in significant financial losses..

[Audio] To overcome these limitations, the use of blockchain technologies is considered a good choice in several research and industrial projects Indeed, the use of blockchain for smart grids may have the following advantages First, The blockchain can potentially turn centralized grid administration into distributed intelligent administration. Second In terms of energy trading, a smart grid with blockchain technology can achieve optimum data flow and cash flow Third Because of its decentralization and fault tolerance, blockchain can dramatically improve the privacy and security of power grids to improve risk management.