GSMA Adds End-to-End Encryption to RCS, Enabling Secure Messaging Between iOS and Android

The GSM Association (GSMA), a global organization representing the interests of mobile network operators, announced this Friday that the latest Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol now includes end-to-end encryption (E2EE) using the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol. This update enables users to share encrypted messages across platforms for the first time.

According to GSMA’s announcement, the new update comes after Apple added RCS support on iPhones in iOS 18, which was announced last year. The new updates allow communications across iOS and Android platforms, safely and privately, under the new RCS Universal Profile 3.0 published on Thursday.

RCS—known as the modern version of SMS—was integrated by Samsung in 2012 and Google in 2015 to compete with Apple iMessage. This led the GSMA to publish the first Universal profile in 2016. Apple had developed its own in-house encrypted protocol for iMessage and agreed to join RCS last year.

“RCS will be the first large-scale messaging service to support interoperable E2EE between client implementations from different providers,” said Tom Van Pelt, Technical Director at GSMA. “Together with other unique security features such as SIM-based authentication, E2EE will provide RCS users with the highest level of privacy and security for stronger protection from scams, fraud, and other security and privacy threats. ”

Pelt explained that the latest version of the RCS Universal Profile was a collaborative effort and that the optimized protocol enhances features such as audio messages, individual and group messaging, high-resolution images, and business subscriptions.

Apple has also confirmed its participation and integration of the protocols in the latest iOS 18. “We are pleased to have helped lead a cross-industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to the RCS Universal Profile published by the GSMA,” said Apple to 9to5Mac in a statement. “We will add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS in future software updates.”