Designing a Blockchain-Based Marketplace for 5G Network Slices

Recent advances in 5G have introduced the concept of network slicing, enabling telecom operators to create virtualized network instances tailored to diverse service demands. However, existing blockchain-based marketplace proposals for slice provisioning often lack integration with telecom infrastructure, alignment with industry standards, automation for SLA data handling, and architectural consistency. This thesis addresses these gaps by designing a blockchain-based marketplace platform that enables short-term provisioning of 5G network slices through standardized, interoperable, and automation-ready interfaces. Using a Design Science Research methodology, the thesis develops and evaluates an architecture that integrates distributed ledger technology with TM Forum Open APIs and aligns with 3GPP standards. Smart contracts are employed to enforce service level agreements (SLAs) in a transparent and tamper-evident manner, enabling automation of SLA verification and secure forwarding of SLA-related data toward operator systems. Rather than attempting to replace billing infrastructure, the proposed architecture supports provisioning-level automation and integration with existing workflows. The main contributions include the specification of a unified architecture that connects blockchain with existing telecom interfaces, the suggested architecture, and a qualitative validation of its technical feasibility and interoperability through expert feedback. The solution demonstrates how automation, traceability, and interoperability could be achieved within SLA service delivery, offering a reference model for similar infrastructure-focused domains. While monetization was not the primary focus, the results indicate potential to expose advanced 5G capabilities to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thereby supporting broader adoption in underserved segments.