Network intelligence and security

Our research focuses on two critical areas: intelligent network control and management and security and privacy in future communication networks.

In intelligent network control and management, we develop high-performance, flexible, and adaptive networking mechanisms that integrate AI-driven automation, multi-domain optimisation, and context-aware intelligence. Our work spans software-defined and deterministic networking in TN/NTN environments, AI-driven network and service management, and network support for emerging technologies such as multimedia, XR, IoT, ultra-low-latency communication, and edge computing. We also incorporate sensing-assisted and semantic communication techniques, including multi-sensory and goal-oriented communication.

In security and privacy, we address three key pillars: fundamental security limits, network and communication security, and post-quantum/quantum-safe security. Our research covers information-theoretic security and formal verification, IoT and cyber-physical system security, satellite communication security, physical-layer security, cloud/fog/vehicular networking security, and AI-driven security and privacy-preserving distributed learning. We further investigate secure semantic communication, secure ISAC, and quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions—optimising PQC for low-latency authentication and key exchange in 5G/6G networks and exploring edge-based PQC offloading.

Overview

Our research focuses on two critical domains for TN and NTN: intelligent network control and management and security and privacy in future communication networks. Both areas integrate knowledge-based, multi-player, distributed AI-enabled, multi-network domain, goal-oriented, and sensing-assisted approaches to optimise network performance and security.

Intelligent network control and management

We develop high-performance, flexible, and adaptive networking solutions that integrate AI-driven automation, multi-domain optimisation, and context-aware intelligence for next-generation communication systems. Our work spans:

Network architecture and protocol design
Software-defined and deterministic networking in integrated TN/NTN environments
AI-driven network and service management
Network support for emerging technologies (such as multimedia, eXtended Reality (XR), IoT communication, Ultra-low latency and high-reliability communication)
Future context-aware mobility management
Sensing-assisted and semantic communication including multi-sensory communications (Immersive media plus touch/haptic)

Security and privacy in future communication networks

We develop security frameworks that integrate security and privacy algorithms into communication system design to ensure robust protection across different network layers. Our research is categorised into three main pillars:

Fundamental limits of secure communication:
- Information-theoretic security, formal verification methods
Network and communication security:
- Security for Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber-physical systems
- Satellite communication security
- Physical-layer security
- Security in cloud, fog, and vehicular networking
- AI-driven security mechanisms and secure and private distributed machine learning techniques
- Security in open RAN (O-RAN) architectures
- Secure integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC)
- Secure semantic communications
Post-quantum/quantum-safe security:
- Optimising PQC for low-latency 5G/6G authentication and key exchange
- Optimising PQC for low-latency 5G/6G authentication and key exchange
- Edge server-based PQC offloading.

Our research aims to advance secure, intelligent, and high-performance communication networks, ensuring resilience against emerging threats while optimising next-generation connectivity solutions.