Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is pushing the Federal Communications Commission to ensure that wireless carriers build new security measures, such as encryption and authentication, into 5G networks as they’re rolled out over the next several years. In a letter to FCC chair Ajit Pai, Wyden raised concerns ranging from hacking to unlawful tracking and interception by nation-state actors.
Wyden urges the FCC to require the big three U.S. carriers – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – to build in cybersecurity protections for 5G networks to address many of the vulnerabilities that have been exploited in older 3G and 4G networks. With 5G networks, which are based more on software than cellular hardware, carriers have an opportunity to better address security issues, the senator added.