The advent of 5G networks raises urgent security concerns as quantum computing threatens to break the classical cryptography protecting their control plane. To address this, this project integrates quantum-resistant mechanisms into a virtualized 5G environment. The project secures traffic using TLS tunnels with NIST-standardized CRYSTALS-Kyber for key exchange and CRYSTALS-Dilithium for authentication in a crypto-agile Public Key Infrastructure; Quantum Key Distribution was also explored. Comparative evaluations demonstrate that Post-Quantum Cryptography solutions are feasible and can deliver unexpected efficiency gains, including reduced authentication latency and improved memory usage. The study also highlights operational challenges like certificate management and resilience under attacks. Overall, the results indicate that PQC algorithms are mature enough for real-world deployment in 5G networks. A successful transition will depend on cryptographic agility, while Quantum Key Distribution offers a valuable complementary layer of security for critical links.

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Towards Quantum-Safe Cryptography in 5G Networks

  • Lucía Muñoz-Solanas,
  • José Álvaro Fernández-Carrasco

摘要

The advent of 5G networks raises urgent security concerns as quantum computing threatens to break the classical cryptography protecting their control plane. To address this, this project integrates quantum-resistant mechanisms into a virtualized 5G environment. The project secures traffic using TLS tunnels with NIST-standardized CRYSTALS-Kyber for key exchange and CRYSTALS-Dilithium for authentication in a crypto-agile Public Key Infrastructure; Quantum Key Distribution was also explored. Comparative evaluations demonstrate that Post-Quantum Cryptography solutions are feasible and can deliver unexpected efficiency gains, including reduced authentication latency and improved memory usage. The study also highlights operational challenges like certificate management and resilience under attacks. Overall, the results indicate that PQC algorithms are mature enough for real-world deployment in 5G networks. A successful transition will depend on cryptographic agility, while Quantum Key Distribution offers a valuable complementary layer of security for critical links.