TAMPA – Wireless connectivity now underpins almost every part of daily life — which is why University of South Florida researchers say future quantum-resistant and AI-enabled security technology is needed to protect the future generation of networks.
Recognizing the growing urgency of securing wireless networks, the U.S. National Science Foundation granted a $1.2 million collaborative research project between USF, Purdue University, and the University of Texas at Dallas, of which USF is receiving $559,000 over three years.
Together, the three institutions are tackling different but complementary pieces of the same research efforts.
The project, titled "Quantum-Ready and AI-Enabled by Design: Resilient and Deployable Next-Gen Cellular Networks," brings together researchers with expertise in cybersecurity, post-quantum cryptography, artificial intelligence, and wireless systems.
Rouzbeh Behnia
Rouzbeh Behnia, assistant professor in the School of Information Systems at the Muma College of Business, is the primary investigator representing USF for this project. Attila Yavuz, associate professor in the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, serves as a co-investigator.
“This grant will allow us to work on challenges that are increasingly strategic to the future of both the nation and the economy,” said Behnia.
From supply chains and transportation to healthcare to financial services, wireless connectivity underpins nearly all critical operations that businesses and public organizations depend on. Behnia said the grant will give the team resources to bring together correlative expertise across USF and its partners.
With the funding, the researchers want to create and evaluate new post-quantum security mechanisms for cellular networks. The work process will go through several phases: research, development, implementation, and evaluation.
“A major goal is to ensure that the solutions are not only secure in theory, but also efficient and practical enough for real-world deployment,” he said, adding that deployable technologies will protect critical U.S. communications infrastructure and strengthen national security in the long run.
Stronger and more resilient wireless networks can reduce the risk of service disruptions, data exposure, and cyberattacks, helping protect daily wireless connections and transactions encrypted and secure, he said.