Network-wide Quantum Key Distribution with Onion Routing Relay

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Otero-García, Pedro, Pérez-Castro, David, Fernández-Veiga, Manuel, Fernández-Vilas, Ana
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Otero-García, Pedro
Pérez-Castro, David
Fernández-Veiga, Manuel
Fernández-Vilas, Ana
author_facet Otero-García, Pedro
Pérez-Castro, David
Fernández-Veiga, Manuel
Fernández-Vilas, Ana
contents The advancement of quantum computing threatens classical cryptographic methods, necessitating the development of secure quantum key distribution (QKD) solutions for QKD Networks (QKDN). In this paper, a novel key distribution protocol, Onion Routing Relay (ORR), that integrates onion routing (OR) with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in a key-relay (KR) model is evaluated for QKDNs. This approach increases the security by enhancing confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, and anonymity in quantum-secure communications. By employing PQC-based encapsulation, ORR pretends to avoid the security risks posed by intermediate malicious nodes and ensures end-to-end security. Results show that the performance of the ORR model, against current key-relay (KR) and trusted-node (TN) approaches, demonstrating its feasibility and applicability in high-security environments maintaining a consistent Quality of Service (QoS). The results show that while ORR incurs higher encryption overhead, it provides substantial security improvements without significantly impacting the overall key distribution time.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_13239
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Network-wide Quantum Key Distribution with Onion Routing Relay
Otero-García, Pedro
Pérez-Castro, David
Fernández-Veiga, Manuel
Fernández-Vilas, Ana
Cryptography and Security
The advancement of quantum computing threatens classical cryptographic methods, necessitating the development of secure quantum key distribution (QKD) solutions for QKD Networks (QKDN). In this paper, a novel key distribution protocol, Onion Routing Relay (ORR), that integrates onion routing (OR) with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in a key-relay (KR) model is evaluated for QKDNs. This approach increases the security by enhancing confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, and anonymity in quantum-secure communications. By employing PQC-based encapsulation, ORR pretends to avoid the security risks posed by intermediate malicious nodes and ensures end-to-end security. Results show that the performance of the ORR model, against current key-relay (KR) and trusted-node (TN) approaches, demonstrating its feasibility and applicability in high-security environments maintaining a consistent Quality of Service (QoS). The results show that while ORR incurs higher encryption overhead, it provides substantial security improvements without significantly impacting the overall key distribution time.
title Network-wide Quantum Key Distribution with Onion Routing Relay
topic Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.13239