Abstract: Techniques for providing a secure clock source in a communication network are disclosed. For example, a method comprises participating in a bi-directional authentication with a network entity in a communication network, sending a clock service request message to the network entity, receiving a clock service accept message in response to the clock service request message when the apparatus is eligible to use a clock service, and receiving one or more secure clock signals from the network entity. Another method comprises participating in a bi-directional authentication with a requesting device in a communication network, receiving a clock service request message from the requesting device, verifying the eligibility of the requesting device to request a clock service, and sending one or more secure clock signals to the requesting device in response to successfully verifying the requesting device.

Abstract: A fiber distribution hub includes an enclosure defining an interior region and a frame body having a longitudinal axis. The frame body is rotatably mounted within the interior region of the enclosure such that the frame body can rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the enclosure between a first terminal angular position and a second terminal angular position. The frame body is rotatably mounted within the interior region of the enclosure also such that the entire frame body remains within the interior region as the frame body rotates between the first terminal angular position and the second terminal angular position. The fiber distribution hub also includes a splitter coupled to the frame body and having a splitter input and a splitter output.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product may be provided for signaling-based remote provisioning and updating of protection policy information in a SEPP of a visited network. A method may include obtaining, at a home network node (hSEPP), protection policy information from a local repository in a home network or via configuration. The hSEPP is a network node at a boundary of the home netowork, and the home network is a public land mobile network (hPLMN). The method includes distributing, via a signaling interface, the protection policy information to a visited network node (vSEPP) within a visited network (vPLMN). The vSEPP is a network node at a boundary of a second network. The protection policy information includes information regarding protection of signaling messages addressed for network functions (NFs) hosted in the hPLMN and is configured for enabling the vSEPP to selectively protect outgoing messages to hSEPP in the home network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically updating routing identifiers (IDs) are provided. One method may include deciding, at a network node, to update a routing identifier for at least one user equipment. The method may then include obtaining or generating a new routing identifier to be assigned to the at least one user equipment along with authentication vectors, and transmitting the new routing identifier to an authentication entity.

Abstract: Techniques for securing mobile-terminated messages are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises receiving, at user equipment, a concealed message from a communication network with which the user equipment is in an idle state. The method de-conceals the concealed message, at the user equipment, to obtain at least one indicator value using at least a security value previously agreed upon with the communication network. The method generates a decision, at the user equipment, with respect to the idle state based on the obtained at least one indicator value. In one example, the at least one indicator value comprises a paging cause value.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses are provided for enabling a user equipment (UE) to connect to the wireless access network that support non-seamless wireless local area network (WLAN) offload (NSWO), such as using the UE's fifth generation (5G) credentials. An apparatus may include a processor and a memory storing computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to request, by the UE, a wireless connection to a network entity; receive, by the UE, from the network entity, an identity request; and in response to the identity request, cause transmission, by the UE, an identity response including a UE identifier to the network entity such that the UE is configured to establish a security context with the network entity upon successful authentication using the UE identifier.

Abstract: There is provided a method, apparatus and computer program product for causing a network repository function to perform: receiving, from a network function service consumer, an access request for an access authorization token, the request comprising a first identification of the network function service consumer and a first identification of at least one network slice on which access is requested; generating an access token in response to the request, the access token comprising at least one network slice identifier for the at least one network slice identified by the first identification; and providing the generated access token to the network function in response to the request for an access authorization token.

Abstract: A fiber distribution hub includes an enclosure defining an interior region and a frame body having a longitudinal axis. The frame body is rotatably mounted within the interior region of the enclosure such that the frame body can rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the enclosure between a first terminal angular position and a second terminal angular position. The frame body is rotatably mounted within the interior region of the enclosure also such that the entire frame body remains within the interior region as the frame body rotates between the first terminal angular position and the second terminal angular position. The fiber distribution hub also includes a splitter coupled to the frame body and having a splitter input and a splitter output.

Abstract: Techniques for automated management of a service level agreement between a first communication network and a second communication network are provided. For example, one of the communication networks is a visited network while the other is a home network whereby the service level agreement is a roaming agreement. In one example, a message is received at a first communication network from a second communication network, wherein at least a portion of the message relates to the service level agreement between the first communication network and the second communication network. An automated verification of information in the message is performed at the first communication network to determine compliance with the service level agreement. The message receiving step is performed by a security edge protection proxy function of the first communication network and the automated verification performing step is performed by a service level agreement management function of the first communication network.

Abstract: Techniques for securing an identifier of user equipment for a request external to a communication network are disclosed. For example, a method comprises receiving, at a network entity, a request for identification information for user equipment from an entity external to a communication network to which the network entity belongs. The network entity generates a secure identifier for the user equipment, wherein the secure identifier comprises an encrypted form of a public subscription identifier associated with the user equipment. The network entity sends the secure identifier to the external entity. The network entity receives the secure identifier in a subsequent request from the external entity. The network entity utilizes the received secure identifier to confirm the received secure identifier corresponds to the user equipment.

Abstract: Techniques for securing mobile-terminated messages are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises receiving, at user equipment, a concealed message from a communication network with which the user equipment is in an idle state. The method de-conceals the concealed message, at the user equipment, to obtain at least one indicator value using at least a security value previously agreed upon with the communication network. The method generates a decision, at the user equipment, with respect to the idle state based on the obtained at least one indicator value. In one example, the at least one indicator value comprises a paging cause value.

Abstract: Improved techniques for secure access control in communication systems are provided. In one example, in accordance with an authorization server function, a method comprises receiving a request from a service consumer in a communication system for access to a service type and one or more resources associated with the service type. The method determines whether the service consumer is authorized to access the service type and the one or more resources associated with the service type. The method generates an access token that identifies one or more service producers for the service type and the one or more resources associated with the service type that the service consumer is authorized to access, and sends the access token to the service consumer. The service consumer can then use the access token to access the one or more services and one or more resources. In addition to such resource level access authorization, target network function group access authorization can be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may include configuring, by a network node, a user equipment to use an aggregation of radio technologies. At least one radio bearer is established between the user equipment and the network node and is routed over an access point of an alternate wireless network. The method may also include determining whether trustworthy security is provided by the access point of the alternate wireless network. The method may also include instructing the user equipment to turn off ciphering based on the determining, wherein the ciphering is turned off for the at least one radio bearer between the user equipment and the apparatus. The method may also be used for configuring specific ciphering on selective radio bearers.

Abstract: Improved techniques for secure access control in communication systems are provided. Secure access control in one or more examples includes authorization of network function sets. For example, in accordance with an authorization server function, a method includes receiving a request from a service consumer in a communication system for access to a service type, wherein the request comprises information including a service producer set identifier. The method determines whether the service consumer is authorized to access the service type. The method identifies service producer instances that belong to the requested service producer set identifier. The method generates an access token that comprises identifiers for identified ones of the service producer instances that belong to the requested service producer set identifier, and sends the access token to the service consumer.

Abstract: Improved techniques are provided for security management in communication systems particularly with respect to access to restricted local operator services in the case of roaming user devices. In one example in accordance with user equipment in a communication system, a method includes initiating a request for access to restricted local operator services, acquiring a network identifier comprising a first country code, and comparing the acquired network identifier with a stored network identifier comprising a second country code. A determination is made whether the first country code and the second country code are different. At least a first action is performed in response to an affirmative determination, and at least a second action is performed in response to a negative determination.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core, at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to establish a user equipment context for a user equipment registered with the apparatus, the user equipment context being associated with an identity of the user equipment, determine that a plurality of network messages comprising the identity of the user equipment as sender fail a network message integrity process, and trigger, responsive to the determination, at least one of: 1) sending a paging message to the user equipment, and 2) initiating an authentication process with a sender of the network messages, and deletion the user equipment context as a response to successful completion of the authentication process.

Abstract: Improved security management techniques between user equipment and a communication system are provided. For example, techniques are provided for preventing malicious attacks via a user equipment deregistration process. In one example, a method comprises sending a deregistration request message from the given user equipment to a communication system to which the given user equipment is registered, wherein the deregistration request message is security-protected and comprises a temporary identifier assigned to the given user equipment. By not sending the deregistration request message with a subscription concealed identifier, the given user equipment prevents a malicious actor from succeeding with a deregistration attack replaying the subscription concealed identifier.

Abstract: Improved techniques for control plane message management in a communication system are provided. For example, a method comprises transmitting control data over a control plane associated with a communication system using a first access identifier value, and transmitting user data over the control plane using a second access identifier value. The first access identifier value is distinct from the second access identifier value.

Abstract: In with a network exposure function of a communication network, a method comprises generating at least one application layer cryptographic key based on a request specific to given user equipment received from an application function, and sharing the application layer cryptographic key with the application function. The application layer cryptographic key is configured to enable the application function and the given user equipment to establish a secure communication session.

Abstract: Techniques for providing a secure clock source in a communication network are disclosed. For example, a method comprises participating in a bi-directional authentication with a network entity in a communication network, sending a clock service request message to the network entity, receiving a clock service accept message in response to the clock service request message when the apparatus is eligible to use a clock service, and receiving one or more secure clock signals from the network entity. Another method comprises participating in a bi-directional authentication with a requesting device in a communication network, receiving a clock service request message from the requesting device, verifying the eligibility of the requesting device to request a clock service, and sending one or more secure clock signals to the requesting device in response to successfully verifying the requesting device.