Multi-Stage Secure Network Element Certificate Provisioning in a Distributed Mobile Access Network

A method is disclosed, comprising: configuring, based on hardware characteristics of a radio access device, a first security certificate; setting up a first encrypted tunnel with a first security server using the first security certificate, the first security server configured to grant permission via the first security certificate for obtaining a second security certificate providing access to an operator core network; tearing down the first encrypted tunnel; and setting up a second encrypted tunnel to a second security server within the operator core network using the second security certificate, the second encrypted tunnel configured to allow the radio access device to securely communicate with the operator core network for providing connectivity for user devices to the operator core network, wherein the first encrypted tunnel and the second encrypted tunnel to use a single transport port to obtain the second security certificate via the first encrypted tunnel.