Quantum Key Distribution Secured Optical Networks: A Survey

Abstract

Increasing incidents of cyber attacks and evolution of quantum computing poses challenges to secure existing information and communication technologies infrastructure. In recent years, quantum key distribution (QKD) is being extensively researched, and is widely accepted as a promising technology to realize secure networks. Optical fiber networks carry a huge amount of information, and are widely deployed around the world in the backbone terrestrial, submarine, metro, and access networks. Thus, instead of using separate dark fibers for quantum communication, integration of QKD with the existing classical optical networks has been proposed as a cost-efficient solution, however, this integration introduces new research challenges. In this paper, we do a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art QKD secured optical networks, which is going to shape communication networks in the coming decades. We elucidate the methods and protocols used in QKD secured optical networks, and describe the process of key establishment. Various methods proposed in the literature to address the networking challenges in QKD secured optical networks, specifically, routing, wavelength and time-slot allocation (RWTA), resiliency, trusted repeater node (TRN) placement, QKD for multicast service, and quantum key recycling are described and compared in detail. This survey begins with the introduction to QKD and its advantages over conventional encryption methods. Thereafter, an overview of QKD is given including quantum bits, basic QKD system, QKD schemes and protocol families along with the detailed description of QKD process based on the Bennett and Brassard-84 (BB84) protocol as it is the most widely used QKD protocol in the literature. QKD system are also prone to some specific types of attacks, hence, we describe the types of quantum hacking attacks on the QKD system along with the methods used to prevent them. Subsequently, the process of point-to-point mechanism of QKD over an optical fiber link is described in detail using the BB84 protocol. Different architectures of QKD secured optical networks are described next. Finally, major findings from this comprehensive survey are summarized with highlighting open issues and challenges in QKD secured optical networks.

Paving the Way towards 800 Gbps Quantum-Secured Optical Channel Deployment in Mission-Critical Environments

“…In this section, some of these efforts are discussed. For a more extensive survey of previous experimental results regrading real world QKD networks, see [6], [25].…”

Metrology Challenges in Quantum Key Distribution

“…2. Here, the quantum transmitter holds a quantum signal source (QSS), random number generator (RNG), and polarization filter (PF) and the quantum receiver comprises of quantum detector (QD), RNG, and PF [6] [7]. Various other components are also involved in QKD systems, and the choice of these components are subjected to the QKD protocols being used.…”

“…Various other components are also involved in QKD systems, and the choice of these components are subjected to the QKD protocols being used. Secure communication is established between transmitter and receiver in the following ways [7][8]:…”

APR-QKDN: A Quantum Key Distribution Network Routing Scheme Based on Application Priority Ranking

“…QKD networks can be separated into three major categories: optical node based QKD networks, quantum relay-based QKD networks, and trusted relay-based QKD network [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Among these, trusted relay-based QKD networks that offer superior security and better scalability have been used in various actual QKD networks, and the feasibility of trusted relay technology in QKD networks has also been verified [ 12 ].…”