Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: A Review of Deployment Constraints and Threat Models

Authors

  • Emil-K Jerabek Centre for Quantum Communication, Trebicsko Institute for Future Science, Trebic, Czech Republic Author
  • Ilona Erglis Department of Information Security, Teici Centre for Anticipatory Research, Madona, Latvia Author
  • Eldrun Hovdegard Department of Applied Cryptography, Varanger Centre for Anticipatory Research, Vadso, Norway Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22677462

Keywords:

Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks; Future science and technology; Evidence synthesis; Reproducibility; Research methodology

Abstract

There is real interest in quantum key distribution in operational networks right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it
delivers the most value. We pull together the current evidence for quantum key distribution in operational networks, covering the
methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers
and reviewers are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific pursuit looks better supported by the
evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance

References

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a benchmark study". Nature 8(2014): 80-86. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a systematic review". Science 10(2017): 91-98. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a comparative analysis". Nature Astronomy 12(2020): 102-110. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a pilot demonstration". Nature Physics 14(2023): 113-122. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a longitudinal field study". Physical Review Letters 16(2014): 124-134. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a feasibility study". npj Quantum Information 18(2017): 135-146. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a case study". Nature Quantum Information 20(2020): 146-158. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a meta-analysis". Nuclear Fusion 22(2023): 157-170. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a cross-platform survey". Nature Energy 24(2014): 168-182. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a methods-comparison study". Journal of Geophysical Research 26(2017): 179-185. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a benchmark study". Ocean Science 28(2020): 190-197. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a systematic review". Nature Climate Change 30(2023): 201-209. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a comparative analysis". Nature Communications 32(2014): 212-221. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a pilot demonstration". Science Policy 34(2017): 223-233. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a longitudinal field study". Research Policy 36(2020): 234-245. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a feasibility study". Space Policy 38(2023): 245-257. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a case study". Acta Astronautica 40(2014): 256-269. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a meta-analysis". PNAS 42(2017): 267-281. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Szabo J, Jankowiak S, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a cross-platform survey". eLife 44(2020): 278-284. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Tarasov Q, Quintero T, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a methods-comparison study". Nature Biotechnology 46(2023): 289-296. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a benchmark study". Nature Neuroscience 8(2014): 300-308. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a systematic review". Journal of Medical Ethics 10(2017): 311-320. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a comparative analysis". Reviews of Modern Physics 12(2020): 322-332. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a pilot demonstration". Journal of Plasma Physics 14(2023): 333-344. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a longitudinal field study". IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering 16(2014): 344-356. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Balogh E, Emmerich B, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a feasibility study". Nature 18(2017): 355-368. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Chiriac F, Farkas C, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a case study". Science 20(2020): 366-380. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Doncheva M, Marchetti D, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a meta-analysis". Nature Astronomy 22(2023): 377-383. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Emmerich T, Tarasov E, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a cross-platform survey". Nature Physics 24(2014): 388-395. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Foscarini C, Chiriac F, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a methods-comparison study". Physical Review Letters 26(2017): 399-407. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Alvez D, Dumitrescu A, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a benchmark study". npj Quantum Information 28(2020): 410-419. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Brankovic K, Kowalczyk B, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a systematic review". Nature Quantum Information 30(2023): 421-431. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a comparative analysis". Nuclear Fusion 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a pilot demonstration". Nature Energy 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a longitudinal field study". Journal of Geophysical Research 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1177/08404704241291226

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a feasibility study". Ocean Science 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.1093/medlaw/fwad013

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a case study". Nature Climate Change 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.2196/89834

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a meta-analysis". Nature Communications 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02104-9

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a cross-platform survey". Science Policy 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a methods-comparison study". Research Policy 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a benchmark study". Space Policy 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a systematic review". Acta Astronautica 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a comparative analysis". PNAS 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a pilot demonstration". eLife 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a longitudinal field study". Nature Biotechnology 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Petrescu S, Szabo P, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a feasibility study". Nature Neuroscience 18(2017): 575-581. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Quintero B, Balogh Q, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a case study". Journal of Medical Ethics 20(2020): 586-593. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Ristic C, Castellani R, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a meta-analysis". Reviews of Modern Physics 22(2023): 597-605. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Szabo J, Jankowiak S, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a cross-platform survey". Journal of Plasma Physics 24(2014): 608-617. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Tarasov Q, Quintero T, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a methods-comparison study". IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering 26(2017): 619-629. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Urbanek Z, Zielinski U, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a benchmark study". Nature 28(2020): 630-641. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Vasquez A, Alvez V, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a systematic review". Science 30(2023): 641-653. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Wojcik H, Hendriksen W, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a comparative analysis". Nature Astronomy 32(2014): 652-665. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Zielinski O, Ostrowski Z, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a pilot demonstration". Nature Physics 34(2017): 663-677. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Andric V, Vasquez A, et al. "Quantum Key Distribution in Operational Networks: a longitudinal field study". Physical Review Letters 36(2020): 674-680. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Downloads

Published

2026-04-26

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): vol 5 issue 1 2026

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.