#PrecisionTimingProtocols

[govindhtech]

Turkcell & ID Quantique Quantum-Safe Juniper Mobile Backhaul

Turkcell leads quantum-safe 5G network security as cyber threats rise.

Turkcell and ID Quantique build quantum-resistant security on Juniper mobile backhaul to defend next-gen telecom infrastructure.

Turkcell, Turkey's largest telecom and telecommunications company, has advanced its quantum computing network infrastructure. Turkcell and ID Quantique (IDQ) completed a groundbreaking quantum-safe mobile backhaul security proof-of-concept (PoC). This puts Turkcell at the forefront of next-generation telecom cybersecurity and addresses quantum computer concerns.

This unique project relies on Juniper's robust MACsec and IPsec frameworks and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology. This technology protects 5G mobile backhaul components like encrypted data and Precision Timing Protocols (PTP) with quantum-resilient protection.

PTP precision timing protocols

5G mobile backhaul networks need Precision Timing Protocols (PTP). These protocols enable clock synchronisation, which is essential for mobile network efficiency.

PTP is thoroughly studied below:

Critical Mobile Network Role:

Turkcell's network gets better timing from PTP and SyncE.

Many 5G services and applications require precise time synchronisation.

Mobility operations like data transmission and call handovers require precise timing.

Quantum Threat Vulnerability:

PTP may be attacked by quantum computing.

Quantum computers endanger cryptographic systems, especially mobile backhaul network time synchronisation.

Effects of PTP manipulation/attacks:

Protecting PTP is crucial since manipulation or inaccuracies can have catastrophic consequences.

These include:

Users lost connections and had greater latency.

Mobile network-dependent enterprises lose money due to lower productivity.

Consumer mistrust in mobile services' reliability and security.

Misaligned networks cause dropped calls and failed data transfers.

Users' locations can be revealed via altering time signals.

Network instability can cause cascade failures that affect several users.

One threat is spoofing attacks, which broadcast fake timing signals to disrupt networks.

PTP Protection Strategy: Turkcell

With ID Quantique and Juniper Networks, Turkcell created a quantum-proof proof-of-concept (PoC) to protect PTP.

The trial used Juniper's MACsec and IPsec frameworks and Quantum Key Distribution encryption keys to protect PTP.

IEEE standard MACsec (802.1AE) encrypted all wired communication, including PTP, SyncE, and Data. MACsec uses AES256 encryption for quantum resistance without performance problems.

The strategy focused on safeguarding PTP without increasing latency that could compromise network performance. The PoC found that PTP could be secured without affecting time data precision.

Turkcell proved that field-deployed Juniper ACX7100s can safeguard data and synchronisation traffic from quantum computer threats in the first proof of concept. Even with quantum-safe MACsec and a virtual key management system, MACsec did not affect PTP quality.

In the second phase, ID Quantique's QKD solution replaced the virtual key management system by providing quantum-protected MACsec and IPsec keys while maintaining 5G timing precision and IP traffic integrity.

Synchronisation persisted when key management was unplugged, proving the network's robustness.

Finally, modern mobile networks, especially 5G, depend on PTP. Turkcell's groundbreaking quantum-safe security program protects PTP from advanced cyberthreats like quantum computers.

Juniper Mobile Backhaul

Juniper Networks is a leader in quantum-safe mobile backhaul network security, as shown by its agreements with Turkcell and ID Quantique.

Juniper's mobile backhaul role is outlined below:

Know Mobile Backhaul Networks

Mobile backhaul networks are necessary to transport all traffic between cell towers and mobile core networks.

They are prime candidates for cyberattacks due to their distant work and sensitive data.

These networks' exact temporal distribution is critical.

Juniper Secures Mobile Backhaul

Juniper Networks, a pioneer in secure, AI-native networks, completed a quantum-safe proof-of-concept (PoC) with Turkcell and ID Quantique to protect mobile backhaul networks from quantum attacks.

Quantum Key Distribution encryption keys and Juniper's powerful MACsec and IPsec frameworks worked well in the PoC. This integration provides quantum-resilient safety for mobile backhaul components like encrypted data and Precision Timing Protocols without sacrificing efficiency.

Key Juniper Mobile Backhaul Products and Technologies The PoC used Juniper hardware:

Juniper Networks ACX7100 cloud metro routers: In the first part of the Proof of Concept, field-deployed routers synchronised traffic and secured data using MACsec. Turkcell proved that these devices can protect traffic from quantum computer attacks by activating MACsec without affecting data traffic or synchronisation quality.

The second phase of the Proof of Concept used Juniper SRX Series Firewalls, particularly the SRX1500, to validate quantum-safe IPsec integration. The configuration confirmed that IDQ's QKD devices support the SRX1500 Firewalls' quantum-safe IPsec services.

MACsec and IPsec certification for Juniper MX Series routers was also noted.

Juniper's IPsec solution adds an RFC8784 secret key to IKE protocols using virtual and/or physical key management entities. This combines quantum-resistant and robust classical algorithms using interchangeable key-management methods.

Enhancing Mobile Backhaul Security and Performance The solution prioritised protecting Precision Timing Protocols (PTP), which are essential to 5G backhaul networks and may be vulnerable to quantum computing. Due to Juniper's frameworks, this was achieved without adding latency that would have hampered network performance. The proof of concept revealed that MACsec can quantum-safely protect data and the mission-critical synchronisation network without compromising time information.

The project showed that the quantum-safe system preserves 5G timing precision and IP traffic integrity with quantum-secure key exchange. This includes PTP/SyncE traffic protection.

Juniper's crypto-agility allows Turkcell to go from virtual QKD-emulation key management to genuine QKD without a software update, maintaining VPN service availability. Juniper's design adapts to new security threats and standards.

Juniper Networks provides the routing, firewall, and security framework technology (MACsec and IPsec) for Turkcell's scalable and quantum-resilient mobile backhaul networks. This protects data integrity and timing from quantum computing threats.