In a wireless communication system, a method and system for implementing the A5/3 encryption algorithm for GSM and EDGE compliant handsets are provided. Input variables may be initialized in a keystream generator and an intermediate value may be generated with a cipher key parameter and a key modifier. A number of processing blocks of output bits may be determined based on a number of bits in an output keystream. The processing blocks of output bits may be generated utilizing a KASUMI operation and may be based on an immediately previous processing block of output bits, the intermediate value, and an indication of the processing block of output bits being processed. The processing blocks of output bits may be generated after an indication that an immediately previous processing block of output bits is available and may be grouped into two final blocks of output bits in the output keystream.