This paper proposes a multicast content distribution method over quantum key distribution (QKD) networks that improves delivery latency and resilience to link bandwidth limitations through mesh network design, while also contributing to reduced key consumption. Although QKD ensures information-theoretic security, its limited key generation rate poses challenges for scalable content delivery. To address this, we introduce a mechanism using random linear network coding in mesh topologies, where nodes adaptively collect and forward packets based on network conditions such as bandwidth and link quality. Evaluations show that our method enables low-latency delivery even under constrained bandwidth scenarios, and can suppress key usage compared to conventional IP multicast over single-tree topologies, depending on network scale and structure.
This paper proposes a multicast content distribution method over quantum key distribution (QKD) networks that improves delivery latency and resilience to link bandwidth limitations through mesh network design, while also contributing to reduced key consumption. Although QKD ensures information-theoretic security, its limited key generation rate poses challenges for scalable content delivery. To address this, we introduce a mechanism using random linear network coding in mesh topologies, where nodes adaptively collect and forward packets based on network conditions such as bandwidth and link quality. Evaluations show that our method enables low-latency delivery even under constrained bandwidth scenarios, and can suppress key usage compared to conventional IP multicast over single-tree topologies, depending on network scale and structure.
The increasing threat posed by quantum computing to traditional encryption methods necessitates the development of advanced cryptographic solutions. Quantum key distribution (QKD), with its ability to generate secure symmetric keys, offers a promising approach. However, QKD faces significant challenges in practical deployment, especially in multi-point interconnected networks. This work introduces a flexible encryption tunnel (FET) designed to address these challenges by dynamically adjusting cryptographic strength and key supply strategies based on network conditions and secret key rate fluctuations. The proposed mechanism ensures seamless integration of QKD within classical optical networks, optimizing key utilization through multi-path routing and adaptive encryption. We compare the performance of FET-based QKD (FET-QKD) with rigid encryption tunnel-based QKD (RET-QKD) across various network topologies, including ring, tree, and mesh. Simulation results demonstrate that FET-QKD achieves a peak QKD service success ratio of 98.4% in ring topology under high traffic loads and a key throughput of 2.43 Mbits, outperforming RET-QKD by over 3.1 times. However, performance gains are limited in complex mesh networks due to increased interference and resource contention. This study highlights the potential of FET-QKD to facilitate the widespread adoption of QKD by enhancing the synergy between quantum and classical networks.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables information-theoretically secure cryptographic key exchange by exploiting quantum mechanical properties -- photon polarisation, entanglement, and the no-cloning theorem -- to detect any eavesdropping attempt. Scaling QKD from point-to-point laboratory demonstrations to large-scale metropolitan and wide-area networks requires addressing three engineering challenges: photon loss over long fibre distances (limiting practical QKD to ~100-150 km without quantum repeaters), network topology design for multi-party key delivery, and integration of QKD with classical network infrastructure. This paper proposes the Quantum Key Distribution Network Architecture (QKDNA) framework, a systematic evaluation of five QKD protocol families (BB84, E91, MDI-QKD, Twin-Field QKD, and CV-QKD) across four network topology models (star, ring, mesh, and hierarchical trusted-node) on 16 real-world metropolitan network scenarios. QKDNA achieves maximum secure key rate of 18.4 Mbps (Twin-Field QKD, 80 km fibre, mesh topology) and demonstrates scalable QKD delivery to 48 simultaneous users. The framework contributes a Network QKD Deployment Index (NQDI) and quantitative guidance for national quantum network infrastructure planning.
Providing secure and scalable cryptographic key distribution in dynamic, infrastructure-less environments remains a major challenge. This work investigates the feasibility and performance of dynamic drone-based mesh networks for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). A detailed Python-based simulation model was developed, incorporating realistic quantum and classical communication channels, multiple drone mobility strategies, key management mechanisms (including revocation), and simulated adversarial conditions such as jamming and interception. The objectives were to model dynamic environments, evaluate key distribution efficiency, and analyze the influence of configuration and adversarial factors on key availability. Results show that adversarial attacks substantially reduce key availability, emphasizing the need for robust security and adaptive key management. Directed mobility strategies demonstrated improved distribution efficiency compared to random movement. Overall, the findings indicate that dynamic drone mesh networks hold strong potential for scalable QKD deployment in challenging, mobile environments, though performance and resilience strongly depend on network configuration, link quality, and mitigation strategies.
Providing secure and scalable cryptographic key distribution in dynamic, infrastructure-less environments remains a major challenge. This work investigates the feasibility and performance of dynamic drone-based mesh networks for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). A detailed Python-based simulation model was developed, incorporating realistic quantum and classical communication channels, multiple drone mobility strategies, key management mechanisms (including revocation), and simulated adversarial conditions such as jamming and interception. The objectives were to model dynamic environments, evaluate key distribution efficiency, and analyze the influence of configuration and adversarial factors on key availability. Results show that adversarial attacks substantially reduce key availability, emphasizing the need for robust security and adaptive key management. Directed mobility strategies demonstrated improved distribution efficiency compared to random movement. Overall, the findings indicate that dynamic drone mesh networks hold strong potential for scalable QKD deployment in challenging, mobile environments, though performance and resilience strongly depend on network configuration, link quality, and mitigation strategies.
Secure multicast services (SMSs), such as video conferences and multi-site backup of data centers, need to adopt multicast technology to transmit data among multiple parties with high demand for security. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a promising technology for distributing information through theoretically secure secret keys. However, up to now, QKD has mainly focused on point-to-point distribution of quantum keys. In this study, what we believe to be a novel node structure is designed to support key multi-relay, and accordingly, a point-to-multipoint key relay scheme is put forward. An auxiliary topology is constructed to dynamically describe the connection and the weight between any two QKD nodes. Based on the auxiliary topology, a key-relay-tree-based routing-and-key assignment (KRT-RKA) algorithm is proposed and evaluated in static and dynamic scenarios. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has a higher security probability than the traditional scheme without a KR tree. Moreover, the performance of the KRT-RKA algorithm will be significantly improved as the number of destination nodes increases. In addition, the security of SMSs can be improved by increasing the density of the node distribution when KRT-RKA is applied.
The need for communications networks is quite evident in the world today, multicasting has becomes a
major way of transferring digital data to huge number of audience. The advantages of multicast in
multi-party communications, such as saving bandwidth, simplicity and efficiency, are very essential
for new services that combine voice, video and text over Internet. It has many applications in online
multimedia and sensor networks and so on. The multicast networks distribute sensitive or private
information, therefore they must be provided via secure communication channels. In this paper, the
security of multicast network has been reviewed. A method has been presented to improve the security
of multicast network (SMN) using quantum key distribution (QKD) network. This technique protected
multicast network against internal and external impersonation. The QKD has been added to multicast
network architecture to generate the secure keys. The keys are in the authentication and encryption
processes. The proposed scheme aimed to provide a secure end to end communication for multicast
network.