Privacy-preserving Attribute Based Credentials for 6G Networks

This paper provides an overview of the integration of privacy preserving Attribute Based Credentials (p-ABC) into the 3GPP 5G Advanced system as well as into the European Project RIGOUROUS (secuRe desIGn and deplOyment of trUsthwoRthy cOntinUum computing 6G Services) for 6G. The differences in the access and device (or user) authentication and authorization in the 3GPP system and the concepts of p-ABC require architectural changes in the main procedures. The novel architecture and procedures of p-ABC support in 5G Advanced are described along with an overview of the 6G RIGOUROUS architecture highlighting the updated zero-touch onboarding of devices into the system. This integration enhances the 5G+ system to support privacy goals such as minimal disclosure or controlled linkability through zero-knowledge proofs.