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Workshop on 5G cybersecurity

Time and place: Thursday, 2 May 2024, 09:30 – 12:30 and 14:30 – 17:30 hours, Geneva (Room K, ITU)

This workshop on 5G cybersecurity took place at ITU Headquarters (ITU Montbrillant building, Room K) in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday, 2 May 2024, from 09:30 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 17:30 hours, followed by the ITU-D Study Group 2 Question 3/2 meeting on Friday, 3 May 2023 dedicated to “Securing information and communication networks: Best practices for developing a culture of cybersecurity”.

Background information

The introduction of 5G technology represents a significant change in telecommunications, offering faster speeds and better connectivity that have the potential to improve industries, expand Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and bring new approaches to digital communication. However, the sophisticated architecture that enables these advancements also brings forth complex cybersecurity challenges that require comprehensive understanding and robust protective measures.

Recognizing the critical importance of safeguarding 5G infrastructure, this workshop aims to bring together experts, policymakers, regulators, and operators to discuss the intricacies of 5G security, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions to emerging threats. As 5G networks are deployed globally, establishing a secure ecosystem is imperative to ensure the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of information, as well as to protect the infrastructure that will become the backbone of the digital economy.

Return to the main ITU-D Study Group 2 page

[09:30 - 09:40] WELCOME FROM THE Q3/2 MANAGEMENT TEAM

Ms Vanessa Copetti Cravo (Brazil) & Ms Nicole Darabian (United Kingdom), Co-Rapporteurs for Question 3/2

[09:40 - 10:45] SESSION 1: SETTING THE SCENE ON 5G CYBERSECURITY

The session aims to give the audience an accessible (i.e. not overly technical) common understanding of 5G, the use cases it enables, and the opportunities and challenges it presents from a security perspective.

What is 5G and what are the main uses cases? (industrial, IoT, etc.)

What makes 5G cybersecurity risks different than other mobile generations? (virtualisation, AI/ML, etc.)

What opportunities does it present for enhancing security of networks?

Do the security considerations vary between public and private 5G networks?

Moderator:

Speakers:

Mr Dmitry Kurbatov, SecurityGen (United Kingdom) [Biography]
Mr Edmar Candeia Gurjão; Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG) (Brazil) [Biography]
Ms Eman Hammad, Texas A&M University (United States) [Biography]

[10:45 - 11:00] Break

[11:00 - 12:30] SESSION 2: ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN 5G SECURITY

Having contextualised the topic, this session will look at standardisation efforts and measures implemented (such as those by vendors) in promoting security of 5G networks (e.g. but not limited to: testing, certification, supply chain assessment).

Moderator:

Speakers:

Ms Samantha Kight, GSMA [Biography]
Mr Holger Zwingmann, umlaut (Part of Accenture) (Germany) [Biography]
Ms Jacqueline Lopes, Ericsson (Sweden) [Biography]
Ms Zhiyuan Hu, ITU-T Study Group 17 & vivo Mobile Communication (China) [Biography]

[12:30 - 14:30] Lunch break

[14:30 - 16:30] SESSION 3: NATIONAL APPROACHES IN DEPLOYING AND SECURING 5G NETWORKS ([1] Policymakers/regulators and [2] Operators)

The session will showcase experiences from Member States in deploying 5G networks and approaches in mitigating cybersecurity risks from a policy, regulatory and operational perspectives. It will be divided in two sub-sessions – one providing policymakers/regulators perspectives, and the other, providing operators’ views.

What are domestic policies governments have taken regarding securing 5G?

What are operators’ experiences in deploying and operationalising 5G networks (standalone but also non-standalone) from a cybersecurity standpoint?

What are regulators’ experiences in implementing updated regulations on 5G security?

[Session 3 focus (1) 14:30 - 15:30] Policymakers/regulators

Moderator:

Speakers:

Mr Ashok Kumar, India [Biography]
H.E. Mr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, United Arab Emirates [Biography]
Mr Evidence Mazhindu, Zimbabwe [Biography]
Ms Vanessa Copetti Cravo, Brazil [Biography]

[Session 3 focus (2) 15:35 - 16:30] Operators

Moderator:

Speakers:

Mr Antonio Elizondo, Virgin Media and O2 (Liberty and Telefonica) (Spain) [Biography]
Mr Samuel Ochieng, Safaricom (Kenya) [Biography]
Mr Muhammad Dawud, Maxis (Malaysia) [Biography]
Mr Sadayuki Abeta, NTT Docomo (Japan) [Biography]

[16:30 - 16:45] Break

[16:45 - 17:25] SESSION 4: KEYNOTE - WHAT VISION FOR THE SECURITY OF FUTURE NETWORKS?

As 5G networks are rolled out across the globe, this forward-looking session will tease out security aspects of future networks based on the recently agreed IMT 2030 Framework. There’ll be the opportunity for Q&A at the end.

What direction does the IMT-2030 (6G vision) set for security? What are the expected benefits, and will it require a substantially different approach to securing networks?

Moderator:

Biography

Speaker:

Ms Eiman Mohyeldin, ITU-R Working Party 5D [Biography] [Presentation]

[17:25 - 17:30] CLOSE BY THE Q3/2 MANAGEMENT TEAM

Ms Vanessa Copetti Cravo (Brazil) & Ms Nicole Darabian (United Kingdom), Co-Rapporteurs for Question 3/2