Radio access network node authentication using radio resource control signal messages

A radio access network node, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• broadcast a minimum requirement message comprising an on demand digital signature capability indication;
• generate an on demand digital signature based on the minimum requirement message;
• transmit, to a user equipment, the on demand digital signature;
• responsive to the on demand digital signature being transmitted to the user equipment, receive, from the user equipment, a connection establishment request message;
• and
• responsive to the connection establishment request message being received, establish, with the user equipment, a communication session.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a radio access network node, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

• broadcasting a first radio resource control message comprising an on demand digital signature capability indication indicative of an on demand digital signature capability;
• responsive to the broadcasting of the first radio resource control message, receiving, from a user equipment, an on demand digital signature request message;
• responsive to the on demand digital signature request message, generating an on demand digital signature according to the on demand digital signature capability;
• transmitting, to the user equipment, the on demand digital signature;
• receiving, from the user equipment, a second radio resource control message comprising a connection request message;
• and
• responsive to second radio resource control message, establishing, with the user equipment, a communication session.