METHODS FOR DYNAMIC OPTIMIZATION OF POST-QUANTUM DIGITAL SIGNATURES IN AUTHENTICATION PROTOCOLS FOR 6G ULTRA-DENSE NETWORKS

Abstract

The development of sixth-generation (6G) networks, focused on ultra-dense access scenarios, ultra-low latency, and massive connectivity of heterogeneous devices, significantly increases the requirements for authentication mechanisms and cybersecurity. An additional risk factor is the projected progress in quantum computing, which challenges the long-term security of classical cryptographic algorithms and necessitates the integration of post-quantum digital signatures into telecommunication protocols. At the same time, existing approaches to implementing post-quantum cryptography in mobile networks are primarily based on static schemes and do not account for the dynamic operating conditions of 6G ultra-dense networks. This paper investigates the problem of constructing quantum-resistant and high-performance authentication protocols for 6G networks, considering fluctuating network parameters, device heterogeneity, and constraints on computational and energy resources. It is demonstrated that the static application of post-quantum digital signatures fails to provide the necessary balance between security levels and the efficiency of authentication procedures in ultra-dense access scenarios. To overcome these limitations, a generalized methodology for the dynamic optimization of post-quantum digital signatures in 6G authentication protocols is proposed. This methodology is based on the adaptive selection of cryptographic algorithms and their parameters depending on the current network state and the resource characteristics of authenticated nodes. The developed model formalizes a mechanism for dynamic signature selection, accounting for latency, computational costs, energy consumption, and quantum resistance levels, which allows for the formulation of formal optimality criteria for 6G networks. The integration of the proposed methods into the authentication protocol forms an adaptive cryptographic architecture capable of scaling under high connection density without compromising security. Experimental simulation results for ultra-dense access scenarios confirm that dynamic optimization reduces authentication latency and energy consumption compared to static post-quantum variants, justifying the feasibility of using adaptive protocols in 6G networks.