Evaluation of Security-Induced Latency on 5G RAN Interfaces and User Plane Communication
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arXiv
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| Autori principali: | , , , |
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| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866912900561502208 |
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| author | Michaelides, Sotiris Lapawa, Jakub Chavez, Daniel Eguiguren Henze, Martin |
| author_facet | Michaelides, Sotiris Lapawa, Jakub Chavez, Daniel Eguiguren Henze, Martin |
| contents | 5G promises enhanced performance-not only in bandwidth and capacity, but also latency and security. Its ultra-reliable low-latency configuration targets round-trip times below 1 ms, while optional security controls extend protection across all interfaces, making 5G attractive for mission-critical applications. A key enabler of low latency is the disaggregation of network components, including the RAN, allowing user-plane functions to be deployed nearer to end users. However, this split introduces additional interfaces, whose protection increases latency overhead. In this paper, guided by discussions with a network operator and a 5G manufacturer, we evaluate the latency overhead of enabling optional 5G security controls across internal RAN interfaces and the 5G user plane. To this end, we deploy the first testbed implementing a disaggregated RAN with standardized optional security mechanisms. Our results show that disaggregated RAN deployments retain a latency advantage over monolithic designs, even with security enabled. However, achieving sub-1 ms round-trip times remains challenging, as cryptographic overhead alone can already exceed this target. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_12059 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Evaluation of Security-Induced Latency on 5G RAN Interfaces and User Plane Communication Michaelides, Sotiris Lapawa, Jakub Chavez, Daniel Eguiguren Henze, Martin Cryptography and Security Networking and Internet Architecture 5G promises enhanced performance-not only in bandwidth and capacity, but also latency and security. Its ultra-reliable low-latency configuration targets round-trip times below 1 ms, while optional security controls extend protection across all interfaces, making 5G attractive for mission-critical applications. A key enabler of low latency is the disaggregation of network components, including the RAN, allowing user-plane functions to be deployed nearer to end users. However, this split introduces additional interfaces, whose protection increases latency overhead. In this paper, guided by discussions with a network operator and a 5G manufacturer, we evaluate the latency overhead of enabling optional 5G security controls across internal RAN interfaces and the 5G user plane. To this end, we deploy the first testbed implementing a disaggregated RAN with standardized optional security mechanisms. Our results show that disaggregated RAN deployments retain a latency advantage over monolithic designs, even with security enabled. However, achieving sub-1 ms round-trip times remains challenging, as cryptographic overhead alone can already exceed this target. |
| title | Evaluation of Security-Induced Latency on 5G RAN Interfaces and User Plane Communication |
| topic | Cryptography and Security Networking and Internet Architecture |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.12059 |