IEEE P802.11-TASK GROUP BT (PQC) MEETING UPDATE


Status of Project IEEE P802.11bt - Post Quantum Cryptography

Stephen Orr (Cisco), Chair
Mark Hamilton (Commscope/Ruckus), Vice-Chair
Alex Lungu (Samsung), Vice-Chair
Blanca Wong Mosquera (Cisco), Secretary
Jay Yang (ZTE), Editor

Page Contents

Background
Goals
October 2025
September 2025
July 2025
May 2025

Background

Classic public key cryptography, for example key exchanges based on Diffie-Hellman (both finite field and elliptic curve) and digital signatures based on the RSA cryptosystem, is vulnerable to compromise from a quantum computer adversary. There is a strong market need to define post-quantum protocols that support algorithms that are resistant to attacks by quantum computers (a.k.a. quantum-resistant) in the standard to address this anticipated vulnerability. As an example, the United States National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) will disallow use of key establishment and digital signatures based on[SO2.1] classic cryptography for use in US government systems after 2035. NIST has published new post-quantum algorithms for use in key establishment and digital signature protocols. In addition, the European Commission encourages Member States to develop comprehensive national strategies for PQC adoption. It is believed that these requirements will also appear in other market verticals (e.g., consumer, financial, etc.).

Goals

This amendment extends 802.11 security to support algorithms for post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The extension specifies:

Approved PAR and CSD for P802.11bt Post Quantum Cryptography

October 2025

Main documents

Achievements

Continue to discuss Contributions


September 2025

Main documents

Achievements

The main achievements of this meeting:


July 2025

Main documents

Achievements

The main achievements of this meeting were to address comments to the PAR and CSD and submit for LMSC/SASB/NesCom approval


May 2025

Main documents

Achievements

The main achievements of this meeting were


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