Evaluation of Security-Induced Latency on 5G RAN Interfaces and User Plane Communication

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2602.12059v1
• Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:20:10 GMT
• Title: Evaluation of Security-Induced Latency on 5G RAN Interfaces and User Plane Communication
• Abstract summary: 5G promises enhanced performance-not only in bandwidth and capacity, but also latency and security.<n>Its ultra-reliable low-latency configuration targets round-trip times below 1 ms.<n>Security controls extend protection across all interfaces, making 5G attractive for mission-critical applications.
• Score: 2.321580694317368
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: 5G promises enhanced performance-not only in bandwidth and capacity, but also latency and security. Its ultra-reliable low-latency configuration targets round-trip times below 1 ms, while optional security controls extend protection across all interfaces, making 5G attractive for mission-critical applications. A key enabler of low latency is the disaggregation of network components, including the RAN, allowing user-plane functions to be deployed nearer to end users. However, this split introduces additional interfaces, whose protection increases latency overhead. In this paper, guided by discussions with a network operator and a 5G manufacturer, we evaluate the latency overhead of enabling optional 5G security controls across internal RAN interfaces and the 5G user plane. To this end, we deploy the first testbed implementing a disaggregated RAN with standardized optional security mechanisms. Our results show that disaggregated RAN deployments retain a latency advantage over monolithic designs, even with security enabled. However, achieving sub-1 ms round-trip times remains challenging, as cryptographic overhead alone can already exceed this target.

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