Quantum-Ready Mobile Communications: Cryptographic Agility for Mobile Networks in the Quantum Era

Cryptographic agility is becoming increasingly essential in mobile networks due to the rapid evolution of network architectures, the growing complexity of security threats, and the anticipated arrival of quantum computing. As mobile networks transition from 5G to 6G, ensuring the adaptability of cryptographic systems to emerging standards and threats is paramount. This paper introduces a novel Cryptographic Management Function (CMF), a centralized software-defined cryptography framework designed to achieve seamless cryptographic agility in mobile networks. The CMF is introduced to enable dynamic, seamless updates to cryptographic algorithms and protocols without disrupting ongoing operations, making it ideal for environments with varying device capabilities and evolving security requirements. It operates by decoupling cryptographic functions from the other network components, centralizing the enforcement of cryptographic policies, and supporting hybrid cryptographic schemes, including Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).