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International Conference on Communications, Signal Processing, and their Applications (ICCSPA)

Quantum-Secure 6G Networks: Exploring Vulnerabilities, Standards, and Emerging Solutions

Katrin Alzaghah, Reem Abu Abed, Tala Ghosheh, Lara Zghayer, Anastassia Gharib

Published Jun 15, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1109/iccspa69228.2026.11600837

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Mobile communication networks are becoming more ubiquitous than ever and are rapidly evolving with increasing adoption beyond traditional services such as voice and data. With 5G and emerging 6G standards, wireless communication networks are expected to play a critical role in various domains including AI-enabled services, robotics, industrial automation, and human critical services. In this context, ensuring the security of mobile networks through a security-first design approach is paramount. Current classical cryptosystems in communication networks rely on asymmetric key cryptography, which is vulnerable to attacks by adversaries equipped with quantum computing capabilities. To address this, solutions such as Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms standardized by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and hybrid approaches combining traditional and PQC algorithms have been proposed. The integration of these solutions into future communication systems such as advanced 5G and 6G is crucial to safeguard against quantum threats. Let’s explore how such an integrated network architecture can be envisioned, the impact on various 3GPP (3rdGeneration Partnership Project) procedures that currently use asymmetric cryptography, the transition from hybrid to standalone approaches to replace them, and the key challenges and considerations that must be addressed during this adoption process.