A novel approach for physical layer security in future-generation passive optical networks

The ever increasing growth of users and network capacity makes the security of passive optical networks (PON) an issue of great concern. In this paper, we present a novel work to enhance the physical layer security for wavelength division multiplexing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing PON. Elliptic curve with Diffie-Helman key exchange protocol is employed to derive a session key for Advanced Encryption Standard algorithm at optical line terminal and optical network units to provide secure communication. Encryption is applied on partial data of I/Q channel in order to reduce the computational time. Successful transmission of 16-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation encrypted OFDM signals at a distance of 100 km is demonstrated within the limits of peak to average power ratio value.