How 5G Impacts Network Performance and Security

By Alex Pirvulescu
Director of Product Management
June 5, 2025

5G technology significantly enhances network performance through offering unprecedented speed, lower latency, greater capacity, and reliable connectivity for a range of new applications and services— from industrial IoT to critical infrastructure, transforming industries and improving user experience. Given the industrial sector’s dependence on reliable, high-speed data transmission, 5G is central to operational efficiency and innovation. However, this evolution comes with new security challenges. 5G technology addresses these challenges with stronger encryption, advanced threat detection, and secure edge computing, among other measures.

Advancements in 5G Security and Network Core

The development of 5G technology has involved collaborative efforts among standard bodies, including 3GPP, ETSI, and IETF, to enhance network security. These enhancements provide robust mechanisms that surpass those of previous generations, ensuring a more secure communication environment.

New Authentication and Privacy Protocols

The 5G standard introduced an authentication framework based on the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). This protocol is network-agnostic and ensures that the originating network makes the final authentication decision. All authentication communication is encrypted to reduce the risk of interception. Additionally, 5G uses more than just the SIM card for identification, incorporating secondary user plane authentication. Subscriber privacy is further protected by exchanging IMSI information only after authentication.

Core Network Agility and Security

5G's Service-Based Architecture (SBA) increases network agility by allowing users to dynamically call up service combinations, enabling modular programming. This architecture, which is delivered through interconnected Network Functions (NFs) with authorization to access each other's services, provides a flexible and secure environment. The SBA uses security protocols like TLS for core network service communication and OAuth2 for application layer authorization, ensuring secure data transmission and access management.

Roaming and User Plane Integrity

A significant security advancement in 5G is the implementation of a security edge protection proxy (SEPP) for roaming security. The SEPP encrypts and filters all communication across the user plane, with each operator's SEPP authenticated to secure the traffic between them. Additionally, 5G introduces integrity protection for user plane traffic between devices and cellular towers to safeguard against man-in-the-middle attacks that could intercept sensitive data.

Extending Security to the Edge: Beyond the Core

Extending core network advancements to edge computing and IoT devices is key to maintaining a strong security posture in a 5G environment. As network perimeters become less defined and data processing moves closer to the source, implementing advanced cryptographic techniques ensures secure data encryption and decryption at the edge — protecting sensitive information during transmission. Establishing secure channels for data transmission offers end-to-end protection from the device level to the core network.

The Imperative of Robust 5G Edge Routers in Industrial Settings

Industrial settings require 5G edge routers that can handle extreme temperatures, high humidity, and significant physical shock and vibration stress. These routers must perform reliably in such harsh conditions to ensure continuous operations. Moreover, industrial cellular routers ought to facilitate remote management, robust security, and interoperability. 

When selecting a 5G router to fully harness the benefits of this transformative technology, key features to consider must include:

• Out-of-band management: Enables network administrators to manage and troubleshoot devices remotely, even when the primary network connection is unavailable. This ensures continuous operations and reduces the need for on-site visits.
• Cloud hosting for network deployment: A centralized cloud platform enables seamless deployment, configuration, and management of network devices, enhancing operational efficiency and simplifying large-scale network management.
• OCI Container support: Empower users to deploy custom applications. Edge computing capabilities allow for a multitude of different areas to be covered, including basic data storage and processing, more advanced AI-driven applications, and additional layers of defense to detect and proactively mitigate network threats.
• Integrated GPS/GNSS provides real-time location tracking and time synchronization, which is necessary for asset management and time-sensitive applications in industrial settings.
• Ruggedized construction: Protects against dust, water, physical shock, and vibration, ensuring durability in harsh industrial environments. Select routers with robust enclosures, such as those made of die-cast aluminum with high ingress protection ratings (e.g., IP54 or higher).
• Extensive connectivity options: Look for routers with multiple connectivity interfaces, including 10/100/1000 Ethernet, USB, RS232, RS485, and GPIOs. These options support a variety of network environments and device requirements, ensuring flexibility and compatibility with different industrial systems.
• Improved Resilience: Perle IRG 5G Routers come with multiple redundancy and failover mechanisms to ensure continuous operation even in the event of hardware or software failures. One such resilience mechanism is the support for the VRRP protocol.
• Advanced security features: Ensure the router supports comprehensive security protocols such as TACACS+, RADIUS with RADSec encryption protocol, and LDAP for authentication, authorization, and accounting. Additionally, look for support for multiple concurrent VPN sessions (e.g., IPSec, OpenVPN) to secure communications and protect data integrity.

Collectively, these features ensure that the network remains secure, resilient, and adaptable to various operational needs. Perle’s 5G routers come with all these features, with no subscription fees — only a one-time payment for the best TCO among similar products

Learn how Perle’s 5G routers can strengthen your network performance and security.