The Russian Ministry of Digital Development proposed to oblige manufacturers to ensure support for the "Kuznechik" encryption algorithm on 5G smartphones, which is currently used in state information systems. The requirement may be established by 2032, RBC writes.
"Kuznechik" was developed with the participation of the FSB Center for Information Protection and Special Communications and the company "InfoTeKS". The draft order of the Ministry of Digital Development makes this algorithm mandatory for subscriber devices. Traffic protection should be provided by cryptographic information protection tools (SKZI) of a class not lower than KS3 (protecting against intruders with advanced capabilities, including administrators and persons with access to system components).
It is assumed that the order will come into force on March 1, 2027, the point on "Kuznechik" - on March 1, 2032, its validity period - 6 years. Similarly, a draft order is being prepared with requirements for base stations for fifth-generation (5G) communications. The tower will include "Kuznechik" only if the smartphone supports this encryption algorithm.
The Russian Ministry of Digital Development stated that the proposed measures should increase the security and stability of communication networks. Manufacturers will have time to prepare for the changes. The department will clarify later how the new requirements will apply to previously purchased devices.
Foreign smartphones without support for Russian algorithms will be able to work in 5G networks as usual.
Alexey Alyasev, director of Signaltek, said that Russian base stations already support domestic cryptographic algorithms at the software level. But to encrypt the radio channel between the station and the smartphone, the "hardware" needs to be refined. This will require hundreds of millions of rubles and at least 2 years, he noted.
In smartphones, radio channel encryption is performed by the modem chip (a microprocessor that is responsible for communication with the cellular network), Alyasev explained. But such large microelectronics manufacturers as Qualcomm and Unisoc (they account for up to 35% of all mobile processor supplies in the world) do not support Russian algorithms, he noted.
For the mass smartphone market, a Russian modem chip with hardware-level encryption is needed, added Vladimir Belsky, deputy head of the Cryptography laboratory at Kryptonit. Currently, there are no such modems in the country. And until an alternative appears, communication protection will be provided using the international AES encryption standard.