The Russian Ministry of Digital Affairs has proposed obliging manufacturers of all smartphones with 5G support to also support the special cryptographic algorithm "Kuznetshik".
The Russian Ministry of Digital Affairs has proposed obliging manufacturers of all smartphones with 5G support to also support the special cryptographic algorithm "Kuznetshik".
According to Russian media, the deadline for fulfilling this requirement is planned to be set by 2032, so that manufacturers have time to prepare.
In 5G networks, the Russian cryptographic algorithm "Kuznetshik" will be used "for traffic encryption (NEA7 mechanism) and integrity verification" (NIA7)."
The algorithm will work if the operator’s base station and the subscriber’s smartphone support it. By 2032, 5G smartphones will use existing encryption mechanisms.
At the same time, this algorithm cannot be installed in a smartphone programmatically; it must be supported by the smartphone modems themselves, while current smartphone modems (e.g. Qualcomm, MediaTek, or Unisoc) certainly do not have such support.
The implementation of this requirement is also complicated by the fact that the algorithm is not included in the international 3GPP mobile communications standard.
So, while Russian base stations already support Kuznetsik encryption software-wise, implementing the technology in smartphones will not be possible before 2030 and will require significant costs.
What will happen after the new requirements come into force with existing iPhones and Android smartphones of Russians is still unknown, and the Russian Ministry of Digital Affairs promises to clarify the procedure later.
As dev.ua wrote, in Russia, they want to divide the networks of small Internet providers between several large players.
Meanwhile, Russia is importing sanctioned Western technology under the guise of sex toys.
