| CPC H04W 12/069 (2021.01) [H04W 12/041 (2021.01); H04W 12/084 (2021.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method by a first core network node of a core network of a wireless communication system for authenticating a user equipment, UE, to the core network, comprising:
receiving a first authentication request to authenticate the UE to the core network;
transmitting an identifier associated with the UE to a second core network node in response to receiving the first authentication request;
receiving a message from the second core network node instructing the first core network node to transmit the authentication request to an external authentication entity;
determining that the UE should be authenticated by the external authentication entity that is external to the wireless communication system;
transmitting a second authentication request to the external authentication entity, the second authentication request identifying the UE;
receiving an authentication response from the external authentication entity verifying authenticity of the UE, the authentication response including a master key; and
deriving a first key for securing communications with the UE from the master key.
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