RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol)

Real-time Transport Protocol (RFC 3550) carries audio and video streams over IP, typically on top of UDP, and is the media transport beneath SIP-based VoIP, IMS, VoLTE/VoNR, WebRTC, and most live-streaming systems. RTP itself provides timestamps, sequence numbers, and payload-type identification but no encryption; the secure profile SRTP (RFC 3711) adds confidentiality and integrity and is mandatory for carrier-grade voice services.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkSignalingSecurity Controls

RTP in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

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 RTP in the wider telecom-security picture, review 1G, ITU, Lawful Interception, RADIUS, SIP and TCP — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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