Post-Quantum Cryptography in the 5G Core

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Attema, Thomas, de Kock, Bor, Jayaprakash, Sandesh Manganahalli, Schoinianakis, Dimitrios, Sijpesteijn, Thom, van de Vlasakker, Rintse
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866914217175547904
author Attema, Thomas
de Kock, Bor
Jayaprakash, Sandesh Manganahalli
Schoinianakis, Dimitrios
Sijpesteijn, Thom
van de Vlasakker, Rintse
author_facet Attema, Thomas
de Kock, Bor
Jayaprakash, Sandesh Manganahalli
Schoinianakis, Dimitrios
Sijpesteijn, Thom
van de Vlasakker, Rintse
contents In this work, the conventional cryptographic algorithms used in the 5G Core are replaced with post-quantum alternatives and the practical impact of this transition is evaluated. Using a simulation environment, we model the registration and deregistration of varying numbers of user equipments (UEs) and measure the resulting effects on bandwidth consumption and latency. Our results show that the deployment of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms has a measurable effect on performance, but that this effect is small, and perhaps more crucially, that the extra overhead needed in terms of computation and bandwidth does not have any substantial impact on the usability of the network and the efficiency of its network functions. Overall the experimental results in this work corroborate earlier research: the 5G Core is technically able to support post-quantum cryptography without any inherent issues connected to the increased computational overhead or larger message size.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_20243
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Post-Quantum Cryptography in the 5G Core
Attema, Thomas
de Kock, Bor
Jayaprakash, Sandesh Manganahalli
Schoinianakis, Dimitrios
Sijpesteijn, Thom
van de Vlasakker, Rintse
Cryptography and Security
Networking and Internet Architecture
Performance
E.3; C.2.2; C.2.3
In this work, the conventional cryptographic algorithms used in the 5G Core are replaced with post-quantum alternatives and the practical impact of this transition is evaluated. Using a simulation environment, we model the registration and deregistration of varying numbers of user equipments (UEs) and measure the resulting effects on bandwidth consumption and latency. Our results show that the deployment of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms has a measurable effect on performance, but that this effect is small, and perhaps more crucially, that the extra overhead needed in terms of computation and bandwidth does not have any substantial impact on the usability of the network and the efficiency of its network functions. Overall the experimental results in this work corroborate earlier research: the 5G Core is technically able to support post-quantum cryptography without any inherent issues connected to the increased computational overhead or larger message size.
title Post-Quantum Cryptography in the 5G Core
topic Cryptography and Security
Networking and Internet Architecture
Performance
E.3; C.2.2; C.2.3
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.20243