World's Leading Open Source Mobile Core Network, free5GC, Moves to Linux Foundation to Advance a New Milestone in Global 5G/6G Technology
The open-source 5G mobile core network free5GC, developed by Dr. Jyh-Cheng Chen, Dean of the College of Computer Science at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), has officially joined the Linux Foundation community this week. This milestone underscores the university's prominent role in global 5G technology research and development, while also establishing a strong foundation for the future progress of 6G technology.
The Linux Foundation made this announcement at the Open Source Summit Europe in Vienna, Austria, on September 16, 2024. As the world’s leading platform for open-source software, hardware collaboration, and standards development, the Foundation plays an essential role in promoting collaboration among expert communities. This partnership will not only streamline the global deployment and adoption of 5G technology across industries but also accelerate the research, development, and application of 6G technology.
Regarding this contribution to the world, Dr. Chen explained that the high speed, low latency, and exceptional reliability of 5G and 6G technologies, when combined with AI applications, will drive the realization of innovative scenarios that were once only imagined. Through 5G/6G networks, smart healthcare technologies—including remote surgery, advanced diagnostics, and personalized health management—will operate in real-time, delivering precise and secure medical services. Moreover, the tactile feedback and virtual reality (VR) capabilities of 6G technology will enable a more lifelike sense of touch, allowing users to experience realistic sensations of touch, smell, and taste in virtual environments, such as during shopping or gaming experiences.
As early as 2019, Dr. Chen's research team launched free5GC, the world’s first fully open-source 5G core network software developed in strict compliance with international standards. Dr. Chen further explained that, over the past two decades of global telecommunications evolution, Taiwan has made significant advancements in mobile devices and small cell base stations. However, the country has had limited influence in the core network domain, a critical component of communication networks. The core network, often referred to as the "brain" of mobile communications, presents substantial technical challenges and incurs high costs, which has hindered innovation and development for many organizations. To address this challenge, he chose to release the software as open-source. Since then, free5GC has been widely adopted in product testing and proof-of-concept projects worldwide. Its open-source nature has garnered considerable attention from both the international academic community and the telecommunications industry.
At the summit in Vienna, Arpit Joshipura, General Manager of Networking, Edge, and IoT at the Linux Foundation, emphasized the significant contributions of Dr. Jyh-Cheng Chen, Dean of the College of Computer Science at NYCU: "We are thrilled to welcome free5GC to the Linux Foundation, as it represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to drive open innovation in the telecommunications space. free5GC brings a robust, open source 5G core network solution that aligns with our mission to foster collaboration and standardization across the industry. This collaboration will empower organizations of all sizes to leverage the transformative potential of 5G with a transparent, scalable, and cost-effective core network solution.
With free5GC now under the Linux Foundation, its influence is expected to increase significantly, supported by the Foundation's strong ecosystem and extensive community backing. This will place free5GC in a pivotal role in the ongoing innovation and development of global 5G and 6G technologies.