Selected Projects 2023

Design and Implementation of a framework for the mitigation of DDoS attacks in the data plane of software-defined networks through AI and P4

Grants

The identification and mitigation of DDos cyberattacks using technologies such as SDN and artificial intelligence has been studied in recent years, obtaining satisfactory and promising results by training machine learning or deep learning models that act as an IDS that is deployed on the controller. However, one of the big challenges that all AI-based IDS face is scalability, due to the overload experienced by the controller, when parsing a large number of flows. The proposed solution for scalability in SDN attack detection is to avoid the controller having to capture the data streams, extract the features to send to the IDS, instead the switches will extract the features from the data streams directly using P4 and will send them directly to the IDS for validation, avoiding driver overload.

The objective of this research is to improve the scalability of the current framework, by mitigating DDoS attacks in the data plane through the use of IA and P4, in this way scalability could be improved for complex architectures with a high volume of traffic.

Colombian Blockchain Network: Development of Skills from a Laboratory for Social Applications and the Appropriation of Blockchain Technology in Colombia

Grants

With the mission of promoting scientific and academic initiatives of national interest and contributing to strengthening the Colombian ecosystem of research, science and education on Blockchain, this innovative initiative seeks to build an active community for the development of skills and an innovative laboratory for social applications in Blockchain. . Create a link between advanced and developing technology centers by combining computing resources and infrastructures distributed throughout Colombia.

Measuring the DNS in Latin America and the Caribbean: towards the development of regional indicators

Grants

LACTLD, together with the DNS Research Federation (DNSRF), proposes to develop a system of indicators to measure the evolution of the DNS ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean with a focus on ccTLDs. The project will seek to build a data matrix with the main variables for DNS analysis in the region, including data contributions from the ccTLD community in the region.

The objective of this measurement project is to advance the understanding of the DNS ecosystem, study achievements and development opportunities for the ccTLD community, and document its contribution to the digitization processes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Data Quality Assessment for Machine Learning in Network Security

Grants

Given the lack of explainability in innovative ML-based solutions applied to identify, prevent, and respond to attacks on Internet infrastructure, especially considering the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and zero-day malware, the objectives of this project are to define a specific data quality metric for each of the following data quality aspects: accuracy, timeliness, uniqueness, validity, consistency, and completeness. Given the established metrics for data quality in networks, the project will develop a collaborative online platform to assess and classify publicly available data sets and commonly used data sets for ML in networks. It is hoped that this platform will serve as a guide for researchers to choose which data set best suits the needs of the research they are developing. Furthermore, this range will serve as a reference point for the development of new data sets in the future.

Open Source Virtual Broadband Network (vBNG) Gateway as a Software Application for Open Networking in the Cloud (SONiC) for ISPs

Grants

Traditional BNG implementations are often based on hardware-dependent and proprietary solutions, leading to vendor lock-in, limited scalability, and challenges in adapting to evolving network requirements. The project addresses these issues by leveraging SONIC NOS and its open source nature to develop a virtual BNG solution that is hardware independent, scalable, and flexible. The main goal is to create a virtual BNG solution that separates the software from the specifics of the hardware, allowing it to run on various hardware platforms and switching ASICs supported by SONIC NOS.

Creating capacities for women and girls in the Chitara Cerritana: We are Guardians of the Páramo

Grants

This project seeks the implementation of wireless and sustainable communication technologies in the local communities of the Almorzadero páramo, including community radios, satellite communication systems and long-distance communication networks based on WIFi, seeking to improve connectivity and communication between the páramo communities, which will help promote social, economic and cultural development in these isolated areas of peasant tradition. The project will focus on promoting the use, management and community participation of peasant women in a wireless Community Network to guarantee communication in their territory as well as Internet access, giving workshops for self-management of the network and benefiting the more than 250 associated women who for nearly 17 years have been forging and strengthening their peasant and community organization

Yafun Project

Awards

Based on a proposal presented that allows progress towards total digital connectivity of the Chilean territory, the project sought to understand the problem of resilience (tolerance to faults, attacks and catastrophes) of the Internet in general and apply this knowledge. The objective was to make an innovative proposal to improve the country’s connectivity in terms of access, quality and resilience. Based on graph theory and optimization, and a cost-benefit analysis, the necessary routes and lines of trunk fiber optics were presented to ensure connectivity and resilience of all regions of the country. The regulatory authority was able to offer subsidies to the supply for the development and deployment of this fiber optic infrastructure, allowing rural and extreme sectors to have the same technical feasibility as the metropolis.

This work has configured a map of national digital connectivity, which identifies the existing deployment of structuring fiber optics on main and secondary roads, along with details of 1,800 locations without Internet access.

Assistance to Mayan leaders of the Digital Community Centers

Grants

Through this initiative, New Sun Road Guatemala, S.A. seeks to provide support and technical assistance to the leaders of the twenty existing Centers in Huehuetenango and Alta Verapaz, strengthening digital skills with video tutorials and remote support in Q’eqchi’y Chuj, focused on existing artificial intelligence (AI) tools that support reduce language barriers for the full use of the internet to support its users to improve their digital skills.

In addition to helping to conserve these Mayan languages, by digitizing them, the Leaders Committee will be supported to form a Commission of Digital Community Centers integrating the Cocodes, religious leaders, teachers, among other relevant actors to integrate workshops with recreational activities that allows breaking gender stereotypes, raising awareness regarding positive masculinities in the community and mainly including the relatives of the leaders so that they can help with shared tasks at home and support them in their full use of the internet.

Citizen Laboratory for Gender Equity in ICT

Grants

This project proposes a set of activities designed from a gender perspective so that women and girls achieve an effective insertion into the digital world, based on a breakdown of gender digital gap indicators for rural areas with basic and advanced digital skills. In parallel, gender-based violence that is reproduced in the digital context such as cyberbullying, groming, revenge among others, which make the digital world an unsafe context for them, will be addressed, so that good practices are addressed from prevention and education, for a safe and equitable Internet, the development of inclusive IT solutions designed by women for the well-being of all citizens.

Non-financial technical support

Internet Stability and Security

IXP Maswal Sierra Norte, Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad A.C. Civil Society, Mexico.

EdgeShare – A Platform for the Use of Idle Resources for the Execution of Services on the Edge of the Internet, Instituto Atlântico. Private Sector, Brazil.

Connectivity and Internet Access

Rural ISP PlanetaWeb, Servicios de Telecomunicaciones Komunicate Cía. Ltda. Private Sector, Ecuador.

Broadband internet in forgotten locations, Soluciones de Integración Tecnológica TecnoHogar S.A. de C.V. Private Sector, Mexico.

Open and Free Internet

Secure Digital Venezuela: Promoting Human Rights in the Digital Environment, Corporación Cambio Sostenible. Civil Society, Venezuela.

Teacher training program in digital citizenship in South America, Faro Digital. Civil Society, Argentina.