Blockchain Interoperability for Future Telecoms

The inherent characteristics of blockchain, including immutability, self-execution, and the removal of intermediaries, consistently generate increasing interest in its applications within the telecom sector, making it an exciting area for investment. This literature review aims to explore a promising research area known as blockchain interoperability. Interoperability seeks to connect two or more independent blockchains to effectively exchange information. Through leveraging the interoperability features of blockchain, independent telecom networks can seamlessly share information with other mobile, fixed, and next-generation networks. This results in improved security and efficiency, cost savings, and an enhanced customer experience. This study reviews highly cited research papers in the literature to assess blockchain's relevance to telecom use cases for interoperability. Additionally, it presents prominent interoperability solutions and identifies essential requirements for the successful implementation of blockchain interoperability in the telecom sector. The findings highlight key research gaps and future directions for the adoption of blockchain in telecommunications, particularly for the forthcoming sixth generation (6G).