Mutual TLS 1.3 Post-Quantum

Technical Explanation

All Service-Based Architecture (SBA) calls between 6G core functions are secured via Mutual TLS (mTLS). In 6G, mTLS 1.3 is upgraded with post-quantum cryptography. Handshakes use ML-KEM (Kyber) for quantum-safe key exchange and ML-DSA (Dilithium) for mutual certificate authentication, ensuring that all internal core network signaling remains provably confidential from quantum adversaries.

Key Functions

• Mandatory quantum-safe encryption for all inter-microservice control plane signaling
• Post-quantum key encapsulation (ML-KEM) and digital certificate signing (ML-DSA)
• Mutual authentication verifying both client and server identity on every internal connection
• Hardware-accelerated cryptographic handshakes completing in under 1 millisecond
• Immunity against internal eavesdropping, wiretapping, and man-in-the-middle attacks