Enhancing the 5G-AKA Protocol with Post-quantum Digital Signature Method

Data communicated in 5G is crucial to the operation of many areas in our society which are under constant cyber-attacks. The Authenticated Key Agreement (5G-AKA) is a standardized protocol to ensure secure communication between devices and the network. However, the current state of cryptography that is used to provide security in the 5G-AKA will be surpassed by algorithms performed in Quantum Computers. The advance in Quantum Computing implies that its capacity to solve complex problems can be used to perform attacks in current cryptographic systems. Thus, the security in 5G communication needs to be revisited and adapted for the post-quantum era. This work proposes the implementation of a post-quantum algorithm in the 5G-AKA protocol. The Dilithium Crystals digital signature algorithm in the protocol’s Initiation Phase to ensure a secure communication between an user equipment and a serving network. The algorithm was successfully simulated providing a post-quantum communication. However, the time of execution can be improved to offer a scalable and universal solution in a post-quantum communication era.