Smart hub quantum key distribution and security management in advanced networks

A method, comprising:

• provisioning, by a system comprising a processor using a network slice of a control plane of a communication network, a group of communication devices within the communication network for a quantum key distribution-based communication between respective pairs of communication devices of the group of communication devices, wherein the control plane is for managing at least one function of communication sessions of the communication network, wherein the provisioning the group of communication devices comprises registering communication devices of the group of communication devices as being authorized to access a quantum key distribution service for communicating between the communication devices of the group, and wherein the network slice comprises an isolated end-to-end virtualized network of the communication network;
• receiving, by the system from a communication device of a pair of communication devices of the respective pairs of communication devices via the network slice, a communication request to establish the quantum key distribution-based communication;
• and
• based on the communication request, sending, by the system via a user plane of the communication network, an establishment request to a quantum key distribution system to facilitate establishment, using a quantum-based communication channel via the quantum key distribution service, of the quantum key distribution-based communication, wherein the user plane is for carrying user data for the communication sessions of the communication network.

A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• provisioning, using a network slice of a control plane of a wireless network, a group of communication entities within the wireless network to facilitate a quantum key distribution-based communication between respective communication entities of the group of communication entities, wherein the control plane is for managing at least one function of communication sessions of the wireless network, wherein the provisioning the group of communication entities comprises registering communication entities of the group of communication entities as being authorized to access a quantum key distribution-based wireless service for communicating between the communication entities of the group, and wherein the network slice comprises an isolated end-to-end virtualized network of the communication network;
• and
• in response to receiving, from a communication entity of the respective communication entities, a communication request to securely communicate with another communication entity of the respective communication entities using a quantum key-based communication session corresponding to a quantum key distribution system, sending, via a user plane of the wireless network, a request to the quantum key distribution system to facilitate establishment, via the quantum key distribution-based wireless service, of the quantum key distribution-based communication using a quantum-based communication channel, wherein the user plane is for carrying user data for the communication sessions of the wireless network.