DIN Standards Committee Information Technology and IT Applications
Standardization needs for satellite based QKD
Abstract
The “Stan d ard izatio n n eed s for satellite-based QKD” work item will provide insights that will influence future stan d ard izatio n effo rts. The scope is specified in the tentative Table of Co n ten ts: - Current state of the art and best practices in SatQKD. This chapter will give the context and starting point of the work item, referencing technology developments for SatQKD and ongoing quantum satellite missions. The European efforts in creating a QKD network should be highlighted, where the terrestrial and space segments seamlessly integrate for end-to-end QKD key provisioning between any pair of users dispersed world-wide. Satellites in different kind of orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO) and constellations, as well as different types of QKD schemes, like prepare and measure or entanglement-based will be considered. The outcome of this chapter are relevant mission scenarios and architectures. - Identification of functional blocks, information flows and corresponding interfaces in SatQKD. For the relevant architectures. identified in the previous chapter, more detailed descriptions of the functional blocks will be given. This meansnot only a description of what it does, but also the data that is processed in these blocks and the corresponding functional interfaces. - Identification of the HW and SW components in the functional blocks. The HW components and the general requirements of the functional blocks identified in the previous chapter will be provided. The HW components shall be agnostic to the actual implementation as much as possible. - Identifying standardization needs. The blocks identified previously are potential subjects of standardization, as well as their interfaces and the associated architecture. In this chapter, they will be analysed from the point of view of standardization. This includes an analysis of components and interfaces which are already standardized for different purposes, e.g., laser communication terminals for optical communications. The corresponding standardization gaps shall be identified. These may include gaps related to physical interfaces, software interfaces, and metrology to characterise components and subsystems, as well as management: configuration management, fault management, performance management and security management. − Priorities for SatQKD standardization In this chapter, a critical revision of the components and relations (interfaces) discussed in the previous chapterwill be performed to suggest priorities for standardization of SatQKD. In particular, the standardization readiness level will be considered. This is particularly relevant for those components that are in the early stages of technological development, where a premature standardization might impose unneeded rigidity. Again, this analysis shall consider existing standards which can be applied for SatQKD.
Begin
2025-04-16
WI
JT022011
Planned document number
prCEN/CLC/TR XXX-JT022011
Responsible national committee
NA 043-02-05 AA - Quantum Technologies
Responsible european committee
CEN/CLC/JTC 22/WG 4 - Quantum Communication and Quantum Cryptography
