Poster: Post-Quantum Resilience by Design: VERTEX, a Vertically Integrated Framework for NextG Cellular Networks

Abstract

Next-generation (NextG) cellular networks face two converging challenges: the transition to post-quantum (PQ) security and the erosion of centralized trust as base stations become more exposed, cores span multiple administrative domains, and network operation increasingly incorporates distributed intelligence. Simply replacing classical cryptography with standardized PQ primitives is insufficient because NextG protocols impose tight communication, latency, trust, and deployment constraints. Our PQ-secure base-station bootstrapping measurements from eight live commercial cells show that SIB1 leaves only 252–264 bytes for authentication, far below the size required by standardized PQ signatures. Those results provide an important insight: PQ migration must be co-designed with network protocols and architecture rather than treated as a primitive substitution. Building on this observation, we present VERTEX, a vertically integrated framework spanning compact and distributed PQ primitives, resilient NextG protocols, trustworthy machine learning, and an end-to-end evaluation fabric. The layers are mutually dependent: cryptographic mechanisms enable secure protocols, protocols protect distributed learning and telemetry, and detections trigger revocation and rekeying. We present the architecture and an evaluation plan spanning laboratory, emulation, and city-scale testbeds. The framework is ongoing work; its central question is how cryptographic guarantees can be maintained across protocol, deployment, and learning boundaries.