Leveraging SDN Control for Time-Precise Quantum Position Verification
Ziyan Zhang, Florian Speelman, Paola Grosso · 2025
With ongoing improvements in quantum network hardware, the demand for practical applications continues to rise. Quantum Position Verification (QPV), which leverages geographic location as an authentication token, has been identified as a critical application. However, QPV faces significant challenges due to timing constraints introduced by real-world conditions. In this work, we investigate the ${\text{c}} - {\text{QPV}}_{{\text{BB}}84}^f$ protocol, examining how these timing constraints affect its reliability and security. To address these challenges, we propose precise timing requirements that ensure the successful execution of the protocol. Furthermore, we propose a possible approach to integrate Software-Defined Networking (SDN) control into quantum networks, introducing time calibration and synchronization phases to mitigate timing issues and improve the protocol’s robustness under practical conditions. Our findings advance the development of secure and practical QPV protocols while showcasing the potential of programmable quantum control planes for scalable quantum networks.