RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman)

RSA, named after Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman (1977), is the long-standing public-key cryptosystem used for encryption and digital signatures, based on the difficulty of factoring large semiprimes. Modern security requires keys of 2048 bits or longer, with 3072+ recommended for new deployments. Post-quantum cryptography roadmaps (NIST PQC) anticipate eventual migration away from RSA.

Categories: Core NetworkSignalingSecurity Controls

RSA in context

The mobile core carries subscriber sessions, mobility and policy. In 4G it is the EPC (MME, HSS, S/PGW); in 5G it is the Service-Based Architecture with AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM and the NRF.

Signaling protocols carry the control-plane messages that set up calls, register subscribers and route SMS. SS7, Diameter, GTP-C and SIP are the four dominant families, and interconnect exposure of any of them is treated by GSMA as top-tier telecom risk.

To place RSA in the wider telecom-security picture, review 5G SBA, ACL, Core Network Security Assessment, IETF, Network Exposure Function (NEF) and Signaling IDS — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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