• Emir Dervisevic
  • Department of Telecommunications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne bb, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Amina Tankovic
  
  • Department of Telecommunications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne bb, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Ehsan Fazel
  • Cisco Systems, Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Raman Kompella
  • Cisco Quantum Lab, Los Angeles, United States
• Peppino Fazio
  • DSMN, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
  • VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
• Miroslav Voznak
  • VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
• Miralem Mehic
  • Department of Telecommunications, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne bb, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia

Abstract

Secure communication makes the widespread use of telecommunication networks and services possible. With the constant progress of computing and mathematics, new cryptographic methods are being diligently developed. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a promising technology that provides an Information-Theoretically Secure (ITS) solution to the secret-key agreement problem between two remote parties. QKD networks based on trusted relay nodes are built to provide service to a larger number of parties at arbitrary distances. They function as an add-on technology to traditional networks, generating, managing, distributing, and supplying ITS cryptographic keys. Since key resources are limited, integrating QKD network services into critical infrastructures necessitates efective key management. As a result, this paper provides a comprehensive review of key management approaches for trustedśrelay QKD networks. They are analyzed to facilitate the identiication of potential strategies and accelerate the future development of QKD networks.