SK Telecom and Thales partnered to successfully test advanced quantum-resistant cryptography. Based on 5G standalone network and 5G SIM, the solution aims at encrypting and decrypting subscriber identity in a secure way to protect user privacy from future quantum threats. This achievement is already crucial as it protects subscribers against potential "record now, decrypt later" attacks.

It represents a major step forward since it allows to safeguard subscribers' identities via a regular commercial telecom network. The innovation consists in upgrading the cryptography used to anonymize the user digital identity on the 5G network. Indeed, the user identity on a 5G network is concealed and secured on the device side due to the 5G SIM.

The security mechanisms involve cryptographic algorithmsdesigned to resist attacks from future quantum computers, providing a level of security that is considered robust in the post-quantum era. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been leading an initiative to standardize post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, and SKT and Thales have used the Crystals-Kyber one for this successful real condition trial. These post-quantum secure algorithms are being developed to withstand attacks from both classical and quantum computers.