Aims and objectives
The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) has signed an agreement with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to undertake 6G and next-generation telecommunication security research over three years through mid-2025.
Through the partnership, CSIRO’s Data61 will research the security requirements of 6G technologies, develop corresponding security frameworks and tools, and shape international security standards. This includes focusing on the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of technologies used within 6G environments, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques, network virtualisation, and cloud-native approaches.
The initiative is a key component of the Department’s efforts in support of resilient, secure, and diverse telecommunication networks, to underpin secure-by-design future digital infrastructure. It will position Australia to harness the opportunities presented by emerging and future connectivity technologies, whilst managing the security and resilience implications.
Key research activities
The program is split into four major research activities, focusing on the following aspects:
- Activity one: Security and privacy protocols for future telecommunication systems.
- Activity two: Network softwarisation and cyber vulnerabilities.
- Activity three: Standards and their implementation in future telecommunications systems.
- Activity four: AI/ML spectrum management and adversarial radio characterisation.