Comparing Existing Cellular Network Generations

LTE refer as long-term evaluation which provides modern communication services to many people and it increased the performance and efficiency of cellular networks [1]. There are many advantages of this network, for example, higher bandwidth, more effective, reduced distortion losses [2]. It also suffers from many attacks and threats which are explaining in this report and to achieve LTE security measurements many security plans developed in the last few years [2]. The main aim of this report is to evaluate various cellular generation and architecture of LTE network. This report categorises into four parts, for example, the comparison between cellular network generations, LTE architecture, LTE attacks on access network and core networks, and identification of biggest LTE attack [3].

The wireless network is a system which is used to produce a communication step between two or more person [4]. The main concept of this network is that it can be used to transmit the signal over long distance and improved performance of cellular networks [4]. There are various kinds of cellular networks generation, for example, 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G and all this generation is explaining in this part.

This technology is completely based on analogy technology in which an input signal transmits in the form of analog signals [5]. This is one of the first processes which use frequency modulation and FDD methods for communication purpose. The frequency modulation method work on 150 MHz frequency and a channel bandwidth of 1G is around 30 KHz. 

This is an advanced generation of mobile network which uses digital communication system because analog technology reduces data speed and strength of signals [5]. In which digital modulation technology is used rather than frequency modulation that increases the efficiency of mobile networks. The uplink frequency of 2G is 890 MHz and downlink frequency is 935 MHz and bandwidth of this network is around 25 MHz [6]

Figure: Comparison between cellular network generations [8].

(Source: Pavloski, Görbil, and Gelenbe, 2013)

This generation was developed after 2.5 G and the main objective of 3G is to increase internet speed in mobile networks [6]. It developed video conferencing and multiple communication systems and also helpful for business industries. 3G networks also produce video calling, internet access, multimedia services, and gaming services. It uses W-CDMA and FDD technologies for communication and a channel bandwidth of this is 5 GHz. The channel bit rate of the third generation is around 2.2 megabits per seconds [7].

This is a conceptual outline of a mobile network that provides high data speed for internet and it can support around 100 megabits per second internet speed [8]. LTE was developed in the year 2010 that increased overall performance and efficiency of many cellular networks. This generation uses OFDM and CDMA technology to transmit signals and also uses the FFT process which increases the productivity of mobile networks [8].

This is future mobile generation which will develop in the year 2020 and it is estimated that this generation will avoid the problem of security and produce high-speed connectivity. It can change the way of communication and people can increase the communication system by using this generation [9]. This will support 1000 fold gains and can provide 10 GB per second internet speed. This generation will use RAT technology and include current wireless networks like LTE, GSM, and Wi-Fi.

Architecture of LTE/LTE-A

The design of LTE is isolated into two sections, for example, a radio access system and centre system. The LTE get to arrange is otherwise called E-UTRAN that incorporates 3GPP radio access framework. E-UTRAN is made out of NodeBs which is utilized to control organize signals and the client hardware is associated with the air interface. Thee-NodeB associated with each other through X2 and for the most part actualizes different capacity, for example, IP header, encryption process, and MME [8]. Long haul assessment additionally bolsters HeNBs and RN and LTE center system otherwise called EPC arrange. The primary reason for the EPC framework is to give the correspondence between heterogeneous access frameworks, containing E-UTRAN and non-get to systems. EPC arrange partitioned into five sections, for example, MME, HSS, SGW, P-SGW, and PCRF [8].

Figure: LTE Architecture

(Source: Pavloski, Görbil, and Gelenbe, 2013)

The MME is utilized to control surface capacity and SGW is utilized to control client surface circumstances. The engineering of LTE includes IMS organize framework which is utilized to control bundle exchanged administrations [9]. The fundamental part of GSM and UMTS is to help circuit exchanged fall-back process and this can be activated when IMS isn’t produced. IMS is isolated into three, for example, client plane, application plane, and control plane. The client plane is characterized as session inception benefit which is embedded into cell phones and the principal part of control plane or framework is to control session of gadgets [10].

Attacks on Access Network

Disclosure of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

It is characterized as a personality membership framework which is a distinguishing proof process. It is watched that numerous individuals utilize IMSI to distinguish data of any individual which is the huge issue in correspondence division. In this cutting-edge age, numerous associations are utilizing the wireless system to speak with other individual yet principle issue happen in LTE and any remote framework is that absence of security. IMSI is where individuals utilize worldwide supporter character through which they go into human individual servers and hack every individual record [4]. LTE diminish the recurrence of IMSI over the space interface and in LTE flag transmitted into the air which can be effortlessly scrambled or hacked. In this way, it is researched that IMSI procedure can diminish human information or data and furthermore diminish change information [5].

This is an extremely regular issue in remote correspondence and they assault on individuals PC framework and other fringe gadgets [5]. Radio recurrence sticking targets transmitter and collector of correspondence framework and diminish the flag to clamour proportion of transmitted signs. For this sort of circumstance, 3GPP proclaim the required recurrence and time through which individuals can dodge area assault and DOS assault.

DoS and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) strikes are both genuine attacks on LTE/LTE-A framework. A commonplace method for DoS ambushes is that aggressors send floods of messages to a target server and exhaust its CPU resources, influencing the goal to unfit to offer organizations to true blue customers [11]. Despite this sort of DoS attacks, diverse DoS ambushes constantly manhandle the loophole in the LTE/LTE-A framework tradition. In the DDoS attacks, aggressors can deliver generous development volume using botnet directed by Command and Control Focuses (C&C) or hacked versatile UE [12].

DOS is an extremely basic issue for LTE or any media transmission association and DOS assault on centre system by which they can go into servers. A versatile botnet is a procedure which is utilized to set up DOS assaults and individuals can utilize this to deliver the surge of dangers. There are primarily two issues happen into DOS assaults, for example, over-burden of SGW, and over-burden of HSS [13].

An insider attack is characterized by security risk that happens within a server or PC framework. This sort of dangers can close down framework hubs in the centre system and create a calculation procedure to square individual documents [13]. It is assessed that this assault can likewise square base station through which individuals can’t speak with another individual.

DOS/DDOS

DOS attack embeds into individuals personal servers and programmers scramble every individual datum or data records. It happens when any programmer creates a calculation into PC frameworks and squares all individual servers [12]. It creates a flooding framework which can’t re-establish without the consent of the assailant and numerous associations’ faces this sort of issue [12]. Programmers target web administrations of numerous online networks, servers of managing account divisions, and other internet-based life after that they scramble all information documents and request cash to re-establish back [11].

The issue of DOS and DDOS assaults can be lessened by receiving numerous security framework and numerous associations created credible servers and security designs [10]. There are different sorts of a process through which individuals can maintain a strategic distance from these kinds of assaults, for instance, the encryption technique, the cryptography process, firewall, and example acknowledgment. Every one of these strategies ought to lessen numerous dangers and assaults in remote systems [11].

Conclusion

LTE is a kind of remote system which is the fourth era cell organizes that stay away from the issue of long separation correspondence. This report evaluated different types of cellular networks and engineering of LTE, and different assaults in LTE systems. There are numerous assaults identified in LTE, for example, area following, discloser of IMSI, DOS assaults, and insider assaults. Individuals can maintain a strategic distance from this kind of risk by utilizing security frameworks, the encryption process and by receiving firewall programming. Many organizations use cloud-based services to protect their personal information and people should update their software on a daily basis.

References

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