In a wireless communication system, a method and system for implementing the GEA3 encryption algorithm for GPRS compliant handsets are provided. An intermediate value may be generated based on initialized input variables, a cipher key and a key modifier. A first processing block of output bits may be generated by a keystream generator from the intermediate value, the cipher key, and an indication of the processing block of output bits being processed. Additional processing blocks of output bits may also be generated by the keystream generator based on an immediately previous processing block of output bits, the intermediate value, the cipher key, and an indication of the processing block of output bits being processed. A restart signal may indicate that subsequent processing blocks of output bits may be generated by the keystream generator by utilizing the same cipher key and the generated intermediate value.