Latest Generation Intelligent Network Design, Deployment and Security Prospects Analysis in the Context of Nepal (LISPAN) 

Research Motivation 

We, the research team members include professionals of networking and telecommunications as well as university professors. Our main motto is to have localized ICT research for our country that contributes towards speedy implementation of new technologies in the field of information and communication technology for social transformation. At the different time frame, we members were involved in the context of Nepal’s ICT development via several research and development. The important part for our country is the concern of network migration costs e.g. legacy to SDN, IPv4 to IPv6 addressing, 3/4G to 5G network, DCN/NDN/Quantum Network etc. for internet and telecom service providers as well as network operation & maintenance and upgrade as well. 

The rapid evolution of communication technology is led by future networks such as 5G, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and Quantum Networks, they are emerging as revolutionary technologies for quick, secure, and dependable connectivity. They have been extremely promising worldwide in terms of managing the rising demands of applications with high data rates, automation, and secure communications. However, their planning, deployment, and security present unique challenges in the context of Nepal, where geography, infrastructure, and policy limitations still prevail.
This study, “Latest Generation Intelligent Network Design, Deployment, and Security Prospects Analysis in the Context of Nepal," will examine deployment methods, performance, and viability of such next-generation networking technologies. With regard to metropolitan cities like Kathmandu, the research aims to evaluate quantum network protocols such as photonic quantum routers and networks based on repeaters to combat rigorous challenges such as photon loss and entanglement degradation. It also aims to analyze 5G and SDN deployment techniques, their integration with Telcos, IoT (Internet of Things) and V2X (Vehicle to All) communication networks, and how this enhances the network's efficiency and scalability. Additionally, the study will focus on strengthening IoT, IoV system security by evaluating cryptographic mechanisms, secure device onboarding, anomaly detection using AI/ML, dynamic trust management, and SDN-enabled security orchestration. 

The study is will also be focused to identify the key performance issues, potential bottlenecks, and security risks for the adoption of such technologies in Nepal. The study aims to bridge the knowledge gap through practical insights and recommendations to stakeholders, including policymakers, telecom operators, and researchers. The study outcomes are expected to facilitate the secure and sustainable development of Nepal's communication infrastructure, supporting the nation's transition to smart networks capable of supporting future technological demands. 

Background 

The rapid development of next-generation intelligent networks like 5G, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and Quantum Networks provides opportunities and challenges to Nepal's communication infrastructure. Although global developments have indicated the potential of these technologies in high-speed connectivity, automation, and secure communication, Nepal has daunting challenges to their effective design, deployment, and security implementation.
Despite early experimentation and research activities, Nepal's transition to smart networks remains slow and patchy primarily due to inadequate expertise, lack of coordinated policy frameworks, and inadequate investment in research and development. The absence of a comprehensive study of feasibility of deployment, security threats, and optimization methods for Nepalese intelligent networks creates a policy-making and strategic planning vacuum. A comprehensive study, therefore, is imperative to assess the current status of intelligent networks, identify key deployment challenges, and propose security solutions tailored to Nepal's geographical, economic, and technological context. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap and provide actionable suggestions for stakeholders like policymakers, network operators, and researchers to facilitate the secure and sustainable growth of Nepal's communication networks.

Justification of the Study 

This study holds significance by contributing to the emerging field of latest generation networks, particularly in the context of Nepal. As cities move toward smarter infrastructure, reliable communication networks become crucial, and the latest generation networks provides new possibilities with advanced protocols for high-performance data transfer. The technical contributions and implications of this study are summarized below:

• Advancement in Latest Generation Intelligent Networks: Provides practical insights into deploying latest generation networks for different applications, bridging the gap between theory and possibilities in real-world applications.
• Policy Development Support: Provides evidence-based insights to assist policymakers in drafting clear policies and regulations for 5G, SDN, and Quantum Network deployment in Nepal.
• Migration Strategy Guidance: Offers practical strategies for the migration from legacy communication networks to intelligent, next-generation networks, ensuring minimal service disruption.
• Infrastructure Readiness Assessment: Highlights critical gaps in Nepal's existing network infrastructure and proposes solutions for upgrading and expanding coverage.
• Supports National Digital Transformation: Aligns with Nepal’s digital goals by enabling secure, scalable, and efficient communication infrastructure, contributing to economic development and technological advancement.
• Security threat analysis and solution approaches: With emerging networking technologies, addressing security and vulnerability issues is essential. This study will analyze threats across quantum networks, 5G/6G, SDN systems, IoT devices, and V2X communications. To counter modern attacks, it will develop adaptive security methods combining lightweight IoT protection, AI-based anomaly detection, SDN-driven policy control, and quantum-safe communication. Together, these approaches aim to build a resilient security framework for Nepal’s next-generation intelligent network

Objective(s) 

The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the performance, possibilities and strategies for development and deployment of the latest generation networks such as SDN, 5G/6G and Quantum network in ISP/Telcos and related applications. To achieve this, the following specific objectives are outlined:

• Assessment of latest generation network deployment such as SDN, 5G and Quantum Network for Nepal 
• Quantum Repeater Network design and evaluation for Kathmandu Metropolitan city.
• Security measures and prospect analysis over IoT, IoV (V2V, V2I, and V2X), quantum networks, and 5G/6G networks 

Reserach Duration: 2.5 Years (2026-2028) 

Principle Investigator: Dr. Babu R. Dawadi, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University

Co-Investigator(s): Dr. Prakash Poudyal, Kathmandu University 

Foreign Collaborator(s): Prof. Dr. Pietro Manzoni , Prof. Dr. Bishnu Prasad Gautam 

PhD Research Scholar(s): TBD 

M.Sc. Students: TBD 

BE Project Students: TBD 

This research is 
Funded by Tribhuvan University Research Coordination and Development Council (TU-RCDC-Nepal) with grant support USD15,000 under Major Research Grants ID: MRG-081/082-Engg-01