ABSTRACT

The limits of 5g networks that have been recognized with the continued deployment of 5g networks prompted the exploratory research into the sixth generation of wireless communications technologies (6G). This chapter first presents the reader a clear introduction to the subject, by providing an overview of this technology in terms of its fundamental components and the relationships between them. Second, the link between cryptography and blockchain technology is made clearer by reviewing some of the techniques used in this technology, together with its implementation in the blockchain environment. Moreover, the chapter discusses a very important aspect of the subject, namely the consensus mechanism, by which the parties reach an agreement on the data to be published in the network. Also, it examines some of the main challenges facing the 6G networks, together with some of the blockchain-based solutions in both infrastructure and application levels. Finally, the chapter concludes by highlighting the challenges of open research in today’s blockchain technology.