Title: Title: LS on work progress on quantum key distribution network (QKDN) in SG11 Submission Date: 2025-12-17 URL of the IETF Web page: https://datatracker.ietf.org/liaison/2086/
To: Operations and Management Area Working Group (opsawg) From: ITU-T SG 11 Purpose: For information Email Addresses --------------- From: [email protected] To: Joe Clarke <[email protected]>,Benoît Claise <[email protected]> Cc: Mahesh Jethanandani <[email protected]>,Benoît Claise <[email protected]>,Joe Clarke <[email protected]>,Scott Mansfield <[email protected]>,Mohamed Boucadair <[email protected]>,Operations and Management Area Working Group Discussion List <[email protected]> Response Contacts: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Technical Contacts: [email protected] Body: Note: See attachment for document with functioning links. ITU-T SG11 is pleased to inform you of SG11 progress on quantum key distribution network (QKDN) topics. 1. The published Recommendations ITU-T SG11 has published five Recommendations on QKDN as follows: 1) Recommendation ITU-T Q.4160: Quantum key distribution networks – Protocol framework 2) Recommendation ITU-T Q.4161: Protocols for Ak interfaces for quantum key distribution networks 3) Recommendation ITU-T Q.4162: Protocols for Kq-1 interfaces for quantum key distribution networks 4) Recommendation ITU-T Q.4163: Protocols for Kx interfaces for quantum key distribution networks 5) Recommendation ITU-T Q.4164: Protocols for Ck interfaces for quantum key distribution networks 2. The items consented at ITU-T Study Group 11 meeting (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025) ITU-T SG11 consented one Recommendation on QKDN as follows: 1) Recommendation ITU-T Q.4165 (ex Q.QKDNi_profr) Quantum key distribution networks interworking - Protocol framework. Summary: Recommendation ITU-T Q.4165 (ex Q.QKDN_profr) specifies a protocol framework for signalling and protocols for quantum key distribution network interworking (QKDNi). 3. On-going work items progressed at ITU-T Study Group 11 meeting (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025) ITU-T SG11 made progress on five draft Recommendations on QKDN as follows: 1) Draft Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDNi_KM “Protocols for interfaces between key managers for quantum key distribution network interworking” Summary Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDNi_KM specifies protocols for Kxi and Kxi’ interfaces in quantum key distribution network interworking (QKDNi). 2) Draft Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_Mk “ Protocols for interfaces on quantum key distribution network manager for quantum key distribution networks” Summary Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_Mk specifies protocols for interfaces on a quantum key distribution network manager (QKDN manager) in quantum key distribution networks (QKDN). Reference points on a QKDN manager are defined in [ITU-T Y.3802] which are Mq, Mqrp, Mops, Mk, Mc, Mu and Mx. A QKDN manager performs FCAPS functions through these interfaces to QKD modules, KMs, QKDN controllers, QKD links, user network managers and corresponding QKDN managers. Also, Mxi reference point for interworking of QKDN management layers is defined in [Y3810] for sharing QKDN management information between QKDN providers through the QKDN management layer. 3) Draft Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_Cq “Protocols for Cq interfaces for quantum key distribution networks” Summary Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_Cq specifies key generation control protocols for Cq interfaces for quantum key distribution networks. 4) Draft Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_GC “General control protocols for interfaces on quantum key distribution network controller for quantum key distribution networks” Summary Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_GC specifies general control protocols at interfaces on a quantum key distribution network controller (QKDN controller) in quantum key distribution networks (QKDNs). Reference points on a QKDN controller are defined in [ITU-T Y.3802] which are Cq, Cqrp, Cops, Ck and Cx and in [ITU-T Y.3810] which is Cxi. A QKDN controller performs control functions through these interfaces to QKD modules, KMs, QKD links and other QKDN controller. Signalling procedures, messages and parameters at Ck interfaces for key relay and Cq interfaces for key generation are specified in [ITU-T Q.4164] and [draft Q.QKDN_Cq]. This draft Recommendation describes protocols for general control functions which can be applied commonly to interfaces on the QKDN controller. These specifications are additional to [ITU-T Q.4164] and [draft Q.QKDN_Cq] and will not override them. 4. New work items initiated at ITU-T Study Group 11 meeting (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025) ITU-T SG11 initiated one Recommendation on QKDN as follows: 1) Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_Pro-car "Protocols for cryptographic application registration in quantum key distribution networks". Summary Draft ITU-T Recommendation Y.QKDN_car-fr "Quantum key distribution networks – Framework of cryptographic application registration" specifies functional architecture model, functional elements, reference points and operational procedures for cryptographic application registration procedures. Recommendation ITU-T Q.QKDN_Pro-car specifies protocols on relevant interfaces including Ar, Ck, Mu and Mc to support cryptographic application registration procedures to be aligned with Y.QKDN_car-fr. 5. Conclusion ITU-T SG11 looks forward to close cooperation with you and relevant groups for future standardization on QKDNs. Attachments: 1) SG11-TD712/GEN: Consent - draft new Recommendation ITU-T Q.4165 (ex Q.QKDNi_profr) "Quantum key distribution network interworking - Protocol framework" (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025). 2) SG11-TD701/GEN: Output - draft new Recommendation Q.QKDNi_KM "Protocols for interfaces between key managers for quantum key distribution network interworking" (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025). 3) SG11-TD704/GEN: Output - draft new Recommendation Q.QKDN_Mk "Protocols for interfaces on quantum key distribution network manager for quantum key distribution networks" (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025). 4) SG11-TD702/GEN: Output - draft new Recommendation Q.QKDN_Cq "Protocols for Cq interfaces for quantum key distribution networks" (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025). 5) SG11-TD703/GEN: Output - draft new Recommendation Q.QKDN_GC "General control protocols for interfaces on quantum key distribution network controller for quantum key distribution networks" (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025). 6) SG11-TD710/GEN: Output - draft baseline of new work item Q.QKDN_Pro-car "Protocols for cryptographic application registration in quantum key distribution networks" (Geneva, 17-26 November 2025). Attachments: LS on work progress on quantum key distribution network (QKDN) in SG11 https://www.ietf.org/lib/dt/documents/LIAISON/liaison-2025-12-17-itu-t-sg-11-opsawg-title-ls-on-work-progress-on-quantum-key-distribution-network-qkdn-in-sg11-attachment-1.pdf _______________________________________________ OPSAWG mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
