- ipoque, the Rohde & Schwarz subsidiary specializing in deep packet inspection (DPI) and IP network traffic analysis software, is collaborating with Chemnitz University of Technology to develop a software solution to strengthen the cybersecurity of 5G and 6G communications networks.
ipoque is cooperating with the Chemnitz University of Technology in a research project on cyber security and digital sovereignty. It is developing a deep packet inspection (DPI) technique. The project focuses on protection against DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) and jamming attacks. While there are currently only a few practical solutions for dealing with such attacks, ipoque aims to offer a solution adapted to the cybersecurity market.
The call for proposals from the German Federal Office for Information Security, which ipoque followed in September 2022, is titled “Cybersecurity and digital sovereignty in the communication technologies 5G/6G”. The project focuses on researching a system that enables providers to securely operate mobile networks. ipoque applied in cooperation with the Chair of Communication Networks and the Chair of Communications Engineering from Chemnitz University of Technology. The company also plans to constantly exchange with renowned mobile communication operators in order to cover the widest possible usage spectrum. This means that realizing this project not only supports the transfer of knowledge but also safeguards jobs, fosters the independence of the mobile industry and the security industry and contributes to the digital sovereignty of Germany.
To carry out this project, ipoque will rely on its product offering, which includes analytical solutions. The DPI engines R&S®PACE 2 and R&S®vPACE identify and classify thousands of applications and protocols and extract metadata in real time, even if traffic is encrypted or obfuscated. The user and control plane correlation module R&S®GSRM enables mobile networking solution providers to filter, forward and load balance subscriber-specific GTP sessions.
So far, most 5G networks operate on the so-called “security by obscurity” approach. Mobile network operators and companies promote the network as secure, but the security of the systems themselves cannot be proven without revealing their operating principles. This makes it easier for attackers to identify and exploit weaknesses that may be unknown to the operators. ipoque is developing this solution to prevent that from happening while also trying to evaluate and ensure the security of 5G and 6G mobile networks.
