The free5GC is an open-source project for the 5th generation (5G) cellular core network based on the 3GPP R15 specifications. The ultimate goal of free5G is to implement a full commercial operational core network including Operation, Administration and Management (OAM), orchestrator, and network slicing complied with 3GPP R15 and beyond. The cellular core network is very expensive, and it is not easy to access the source code. For people doing research in this area, they usually could only conduct mathematical analysis and simulation to verify their ideas. With free5GC, researchers not only can get the source code for free but also can realize their own ideas in a real core network environment. The free5GC can also help ICT industry to develop and test 5G products. It will be important and essential for the development of the 5G industry. In the past, computer industry was dominated by few big companies, which sold the hardware and software altogether. Nowadays, computer hardware and software are developed and sold separately by different companies, which makes the industry prosperous. The cellular core networks have been dominated by few giants. With free5GC, our dream is to “free” the cellular core networks. By using free5GC as the “soul,” many hardware manufacturers can build hardware for cellular core networks.
The free5GC is an open-source project for the 5th generation (5G) cellular core network based on the 3GPP R15 specifications. The ultimate goal of free5G is to implement a full commercial operational core network including Operation, Administration and Management (OAM), orchestrator, and network slicing complied with 3GPP R15 and beyond. The cellular core network is very expensive, and it is not easy to access the source code. For people doing research in this area, they usually could only conduct mathematical analysis and simulation to verify their ideas. With free5GC, researchers not only can get the source code for free but also can realize their own ideas in a real core network environment. The free5GC can also help ICT industry to develop and test 5G products. It will be important and essential for the development of the 5G industry. In the past, computer industry was dominated by few big companies, which sold the hardware and software altogether. Nowadays, computer hardware and software are developed and sold separately by different companies, which makes the industry prosperous. The cellular core networks have been dominated by few giants. With free5GC, our dream is to “free” the cellular core networks. By using free5GC as the “soul,” many hardware manufacturers can build hardware for cellular core networks.
About Dr. Jyh-Cheng Chen
Dr. Jyh-Cheng Chen
Chair Professor, Department of Computer Science, National Chiao Tung University
Jyh-Cheng Chen has been a Faculty Member with National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Hsinchu, Taiwan since 2010. Prior to that, he was with Bellcore/Telcordia Technologies in New Jersey, USA, and National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Hsinchu, Taiwan. He was the Convener of Computer Science Program, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, from 2016-2018. Dr. Chen received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Teaching Awards from both NCTU and NTHU, the Outstanding Research Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Outstanding I. T. Elite Award, Taiwan, the Medal of Honor, Institute of Information & Computing Machinery, and the Telcordia CEO Award. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Distinguished Member of the ACM. He was a member of the Fellows Evaluation Committee, IEEE Computer Society.