A special issue of Communications & Networks Connect (3105-1421)
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2026 Published Articles: 0 Submit your Article Share
Lead Guest Editor
We invite researchers to contribute to our forthcoming special issue on Advances in Quantum Cryptography and its Applications. Quantum cryptography holds great promise for driving revolutionary advancements in secure communications.
At present, quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum random number generators (QRNGs) are the most mature technologies in the research area of quantum cryptography. Despite this progress, the path toward widespread adoption of QKD is constrained by two major challenges. The first challenge lies in improving key generation performance—specifically achieving higher key rates, longer transmission distances, and greater robustness against noise and loss in practical communication environments. Real-world conditions, such as channel imperfections, detector inefficiencies, and background noise, often degrade performance and limit scalability. The second challenge involves broadening the scope of QKD applications. While most current implementations focus on point-to-point secure key exchange, future directions may include integration with classical networks, deployment in large-scale quantum communication infrastructures, and novel paradigms such as satellite-based QKD, device-independent security models, and hybrid quantum–classical cryptographic systems. Expanding these application domains is essential for making QKD a versatile and indispensable component of next-generation secure communication technologies.
On the other hand, the study of cryptographic protocols that extend beyond quantum key distribution in heterogeneous network environments remains relatively limited. While QKD has been the primary focus of most heterogeneous networks—comprising diverse quantum and classical infrastructures—could provide a versatile platform for testing, integrating, and ultimately deploying a wider range of advanced quantum cryptographic primitives. Such networks would not only enhance secure communication but also broaden the scope of quantum technologies by enabling protocols like quantum secret sharing; quantum digital signatures; quantum oblivious transfer; and quantum secure direct communication. By leveraging the capabilities of heterogeneous architecture, these emerging protocols could transition from theoretical constructions to practical applications, paving the way for a more comprehensive quantum-secured communication ecosystem.
This special issue will spotlight and advance the state of the art in the design, implementation, and deployment of quantum cryptographic protocols across heterogeneous network environments. The goal is to bring together cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges of building secure, efficient, and interoperable quantum communication systems capable of operating at scale.
For further details, please contact the editorial office at: info@scifiniti.com