CTIA announced the launch of its 5G Security Test Bed (STB) for validating security in commercial 5G networks. Founding members are AT&T, Ericsson, T-Mobile, UScellular, MITRE and the University of Maryland.
The test bed is located at a secure lab facility at the University of Maryland. The wireless core network is hosted in northern Virginia by MITRE, a not-for-profit R&D company.
The site also provides an environment where they can assess potential threats to 5G security as they're raised by researchers.
The founding members developed the initiative through their participation in CTIA's Cybersecurity Working Group. The expectation is for the STB to focus on recommendations by the FCC’s Communications Security Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). In addition, the STB will serve as an industry resource for CSRIC VIII, which launched in June.
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The testbed's first configuration, built with Ericsson equipment, mirrors the initial setup for most 5G networks – it’s radio access network (RAN) is connected to a 4G core to create a 5G non-standalone (NSA) network. In 2022, the STB's configuration will shift to a 5G standalone (SA) network using a 5G core, which will enable testing of 5G SA use cases.
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Ericsson, which is a Swedish company, noted that it makes a lot of the next-gen equipment for its U.S. customers at its smart 5G factory in Lewisville, Texas.
"Ericsson has worked closely with operators to provide the latest equipment to expand secure 5G networks and devices across the nation. We are pleased to play a major role in this next critical step in ensuring robust 5G security for all users,” said Jason Boswell, VP and head of End-to-End Security at Ericsson North America, in a statement. “Critical infrastructure, in particular, must have secure and resilient communication end to end, while maintaining the trust and integrity of its supply chain.”