Performance Evaluation of Certificate Based Authentication in Integrated Emerging 3G and Wi-Fi Networks

Certificate based authentication of parties provides a powerful means for verifying claimed identities, avoiding the necessity of distributing shared secrets beforehand. Whereas Wi-Fi networks present security deficiencies, they manage to highly penetrate into the wireless market in a great degree due to their low cost, easy administration, great capacity, IP-oriented nature, etc. Considering Wi-Fi networking settings, administrated by different operators, as parts of a common core 3G infrastructure, the paper proposes and evaluates the potential application of enhanced TLS-based authentication mechanisms in integrated emerging-3G and Wi-Fi networks. We propose to use EAP-TLS protocol seconded by Public Key Infrastructure entities, to provide users with robust authentication mechanisms in hybrid WLAN-3G heterogeneous environment. Our alternative solution is discussed against EAP-AKA procedures as they appear in the latest 3G and integrated 3G/Wi-Fi specifications. Finally, the proposed mechanism is evaluated through a properly designed experimental test bed setup.