Quantum-Enhanced Security Framework for Next-Generation Space–Terrestrial Networks Article Swipe
Sheng‐Kai Liao
,
Yang Xie
,
Qianran Wang
,
Jinhui Li
·
YOU?
·
· 2025
· Open Access
·
· DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121182
YOU?
·
· 2025
· Open Access
·
· DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121182
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.
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Metadata
- Type
- article
- Language
- en
- Landing Page
- https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121182
- https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/12/1182/pdf?version=1764487418
- OA Status
- gold
- References
- 14
- OpenAlex ID
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All OpenAlex metadata
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https://openalex.org/W4416845590Canonical identifier for this work in OpenAlex
- DOI
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https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121182Digital Object Identifier
- Title
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Quantum-Enhanced Security Framework for Next-Generation Space–Terrestrial NetworksWork title
- Type
-
articleOpenAlex work type
- Language
-
enPrimary language
- Publication year
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2025Year of publication
- Publication date
-
2025-11-30Full publication date if available
- Authors
-
Sheng‐Kai Liao, Yang Xie, Qianran Wang, Jinhui LiList of authors in order
- Landing page
-
https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12121182Publisher landing page
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-
https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/12/1182/pdf?version=1764487418Direct link to full text PDF
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YesWhether a free full text is available
- OA status
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goldOpen access status per OpenAlex
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https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/12/1182/pdf?version=1764487418Direct OA link when available
- Cited by
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0Total citation count in OpenAlex
- References (count)
-
14Number of works referenced by this work
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