5G Network Lab

Several devices on a table. In the center three different smartphones, connected to a computer via USB cables.

Controlling Custom Devices

Our setup includes various custom off the shelf smartphones. They cover different operating system versions, hardware capabilities, and mobile network generations.

A small grey SDR box in the foreground, a large metal box in the background.

Software Defined Radios

Software defined radios allow us to run our own mobile networks. With open-source software stacks we can manipulate the network and conduct different experiments.


A Smartphone in a metal box, visible through metal wire mesh.

Shielding Box

A shielding box allows us to put a device in a controlled environment. The box keeps undesired signals out and only forwards our own network signal.

A phone in an open metal box. The metal box is connected to a small grey SDR with two cables.

Lab Setup

The controlled lab setup makes it possible to test different sophisticated attacks and countermeasures while being in full control of the setup.


Two tower PCs on a desk. The left one has eight antennas attached to it.

Callbox

Besides our self-maintained networks, we also use an Amarisoft Callbox. It implements 4G and 5G networks and can be fully configured. While it is closed source, it provides us with a stable reference network.

In the foreground\: a Screen that shows a table. In the background: a tower PC with antennas.

5G Experiments

The Callbox implements the full stack and even allows for emulated radio connections. It completes our mobile network lab and enables 5G standalone measurements.