Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC), a vital branch of quantum communication, enables reliable, secure transmission under harsh conditions of high channel noise, large optical loss and stringent security constraints. Having undergone field trials and practical deployment, QSDC serves as a promising candidate for confidential transmission in ultra-high-security scenarios. Modern society relies heavily on ubiquitous communication, and 5G mobile networks have achieved rapid development and widespread commercialization in recent years, driving growing demands for robust 5G security. This paper proposes a QSDC-5G integrated secure transmission architecture to safeguard 5G data delivery. The solution maintains full compatibility with legacy classical networks while satisfying long-term security requirements for future communications. Laboratory simulation and stability tests were conducted on the proposed converged security network. Continuous 24-hour measurements demonstrate that the integrated network achieves an interface throughput of 12 kbps with a round-trip latency below 3500 ms. These key metrics satisfy the signaling transmission demands for single mobile terminal authentication when accessing private networks via base stations, laying a solid foundation for deep integration of QSDC into 5G systems.
Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC), a vital branch of quantum communication, enables reliable, secure transmission under harsh conditions of high channel noise, large optical loss and stringent security constraints. Having undergone field trials and practical deployment, QSDC serves as a promising candidate for confidential transmission in ultra-high-security scenarios. Modern society relies heavily on ubiquitous communication, and 5G mobile networks have achieved rapid development and widespread commercialization in recent years, driving growing demands for robust 5G security. This paper proposes a QSDC-5G integrated secure transmission architecture to safeguard 5G data delivery. The solution maintains full compatibility with legacy classical networks while satisfying long-term security requirements for future communications. Laboratory simulation and stability tests were conducted on the proposed converged security network. Continuous 24-hour measurements demonstrate that the integrated network achieves an interface throughput of 12 kbps with a round-trip latency below 3500 ms. These key metrics satisfy the signaling transmission demands for single mobile terminal authentication when accessing private networks via base stations, laying a solid foundation for deep integration of QSDC into 5G systems.
The integration of quantum communication principles with 5G technology presents a groundbreaking approach to addressing the growing demand for high-speed, secure, and resilient communication systems. This paper proposes a Quantum-Driven Hybrid Network Architecture that leverages Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for unparalleled security and combines it with 5G's ultra-fast data transmission capabilities. The architecture integrates key components such as QKD modules, 5G infrastructure, and edge computing, organized into a layered framework comprising quantum, network control, and application layers. Simulation results demonstrate significant improvements in throughput (up to 23.5%), latency reduction (up to 25%), and error rate reduction in high-noise environments (from 0.25% to 0.05%). The proposed system also exhibits enhanced security, achieving a 100% success rate in mitigating eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Using resource-efficient mechanisms, the hybrid network achieves an overall accuracy of 97.8% in secure and resilient data transmission. This work validates the potential of quantum-enhanced 5G systems to meet the challenges of future communication networks.
The article presents the concept of developing a hardware-software complex (HSC) designed for secure data transmission in mobile networks of5G/6Gstandards using advanced quantum key distribution (QKD) technologies. The scientific novelty of the work lies in proposing a mobile communication architecture that integrates quantum cryptographic methods to address current security challenges amid the development of next-generation networks and the emergence of threats from quantum computing. The concept involves creating a complex that combines hardware and software components within a unified architecture, ensuring secure exchange of text, audio, and video messages even in the presence of potential attacks using quantum computing. The proposed concept demonstrates the feasibility of integrating QKD into mobile network infrastructure, laying the foundation for building quantum-resistant communication systems under real-world operational conditions. The main contribution of this work is the development of a universal solution capable of maintaining data integrity and confidentiality in mobile communication channels by leveraging the fundamental principles of quantum physics. The practical relevance of the concept is confirmed by its potential to be adapted for use in critically important infrastructure scenarios and its compatibility with various mobile operating systems, offering a promising approach to ensuring secure data transmission in the context of quantum technology advancement and increased data transmission speeds in 5G/6G networks.
The digitization of distribution networks necessitates robust, quantum-resistant communication protocols to secure end-to-main-station interactions amid escalating connectivity and quantum computing threats. Traditional cryptographic schemes, susceptible to Shor’s algorithm, prove inadequate in wireless settings marred by fading and interference, while prior QKD-5G hybrids neglect hierarchical architectures and service diversity. This paper proposes an innovative framework that fuses quantum key distribution (QKD) with 5G primitives—such as beamforming and network slicing—to realize stratified authentication, adaptive one-time-pad key distribution, and service-tailored protocols. Core innovations encompass threshold-based edge key pooling for enhanced scalability, channel state information (CSI)-driven QKD adaptations for noise mitigation, and convex-optimized slicing for isolating ultra-reliable low-latency (URLLC) and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services. Security analysis establishes information-theoretic assurances against semi-honest adversaries, with simulations demonstrating superior key rates, low latencies, and large-scale terminal support—outperforming baselines in resilience. This framework propels quantum-secure smart grids forward, alleviating post-quantum vulnerabilities and promoting resilient energy systems.
Quantum communication has developed into various classes, including recent novel quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) schemes. The QSDC method transmits confidential information directly between parties over a quantum channel without requiring a shared private key. Even though QSDC offers improved security guarantees and reduces the possibility of security loopholes, practical applications such as secure information rates, long-distance quantum communication and networking, and integration with existing technologies still requires improvement. Meanwhile, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) continue to revolutionize several fields, including quantum communication, which is challenging to control and maintain effectively for optimum performance. Various ML techniques have been applied to quantum communication systems to mitigate noise-induced errors, analyze communication protocols, and optimize secure key generation rates. While this represents a significant development and has the potential to address challenges facing QSDC applications, we are unaware of ML applications specifically improving QSDC systems. Due to this, we bring forward the discussion and unveil the critical need to integrate AI and ML models into QSDC to enhance security, improve fault tolerance, increase communication distance, and optimize resource allocation. Consequently, this work establishes a practical framework for unlocking the full potential of QSDC protocols and, more broadly, practical quantum communication.
Mobile communication networks are becoming more ubiquitous than ever and are rapidly evolving with increasing adoption beyond traditional services such as voice and data. With 5G and emerging 6G standards, wireless communication networks are expected to play a critical role in various domains including AI-enabled services, robotics, industrial automation, and human critical services. In this context, ensuring the security of mobile networks through a security-first design approach is paramount. Current classical cryptosystems in communication networks rely on asymmetric key cryptography, which is vulnerable to attacks by adversaries equipped with quantum computing capabilities. To address this, solutions such as Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms standardized by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and hybrid approaches combining traditional and PQC algorithms have been proposed. The integration of these solutions into future communication systems such as advanced 5G and 6G is crucial to safeguard against quantum threats. Let’s explore how such an integrated network architecture can be envisioned, the impact on various 3GPP (3rdGeneration Partnership Project) procedures that currently use asymmetric cryptography, the transition from hybrid to standalone approaches to replace them, and the key challenges and considerations that must be addressed during this adoption process.
Advancements in Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technology facilitate ubiquitous network access for users, whereas satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) offers a viable solution for long-distance quantum key exchange in scenarios lacking terrestrial network infrastructure. This study explores the feasibility and practical utility of integrating NTN technology with satellite-based QKD and proposes a novel quantum-enhanced security framework for next-generation space–terrestrial networks. We have developed and deployed the first-of-its-kind 5G-enabled (fifth generation mobile communication) NTN prototype system leveraging satellite-based QKD key encryption. This system comprises a quantum satellite system, a communication satellite system, a 5G network infrastructure, and end-to-end encryption/decryption modules, aiming to validate the feasibility and usability of the proposed quantum-encrypted NTN security framework. Comprehensive tests and performance evaluations were carried out on the testbed constructed based on this prototype system, which collected critical Quality of Experience (QoE) metrics, including Round-Trip Time (RTT) and jitter, during user-plane ping measurements. Experimental results demonstrate that the integration of quantum encryption capabilities incurs an RTT overhead of 5 ms (0.75%), a necessary trade-off for systems incorporating supplementary quantum-encrypted transmission. Concurrently, the deployment of Virtual Private Network (VPN) infrastructure mitigates network jitter by 50%. These results hold critical theoretical and practical implications for the development of next-generation NTN security frameworks enabled by satellite-based QKD.