Optical Burst Switching (OBS) paradigm coupled with Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) has become a practical candidate solution for the next-generation optical backbone networks. In its practical deployment only the edge nodes are provisioned with buffering capabilities, whereas all interior (core) nodes remain buffer-less. In that way the implementation becomes quite simple as well as cost effective as there will be no need for optical buffers in the interior. However, the buffer-less nature of the interior nodes makes such networks prone to data burst contention occurrences that lead to a degradation in overall network performance as a result of sporadic heavy burst losses. Such drawbacks can be partly countered by appropriately dimensioning available network resources and reactively by way of deflecting excess as well as contending data bursts to available least-cost alternate paths. However, the deflected data bursts (traffic) must not cause network performance degradations in the deflection routes. Because minimizing contention occurrences is key to provisioning a consistent Quality of Service (QoS), we therefore in this paper propose and analyze a framework (scheme) that seeks to intelligently deflect traffic in the core network such that QoS degradations caused by contention occurrences are minimized. This is by way of regulated deflection routing (rDr) in which neural network agents are utilized in reinforcing the deflection route choices at core nodes. The framework primarily relies on both reactive and proactive regulated deflection routing approaches in order to prevent or resolve data burst contentions. Simulation results show that the scheme does effectively improve overall network performance when compared with existing contention resolution approaches. Notably, the scheme minimizes burst losses, end-to-end delays, frequency of contention occurrences, and burst deflections.

5G wireless together with optical backbone networks are expected to be the main pillars of the envisaged next /future generation networking (N/FGN) infrastructures. This is an impetus to practical realization of an IoT network that will support and ensure relatively higher bandwidth as well as enhanced quality of service (QoS) in both access and core network sections. The high-speed wireless links at the network peripherals will serve as a conducive platform for device-to-device (D2D) communication. D2D driven applications and services can only be effective as well as secure assuming the associated machine type communication devices (MTCDs) have been successfully verified and authenticated. Typically, D2D type services and applications involve the interaction of several MTCDs in a group. As such, secure and effective D2D group-based authentication and key agreement (AKA) protocols are necessary. They need to inherently achieve efficacy in maintaining the group key unlink-ability as well as generate minimal signalling overheads that otherwise may lead to network congestion. In this paper we detail a secure and efficient Group AKA (Gr-AKA) protocol for D2D communication. Its performance is compared to that of existing similar protocols and is found to comparably lower both computational as well as signalling overhead requirements. Overall the analysis shows that the Gr-AKA protocol improves performance in terms of fulfilling D2D communication's security requirements.

Heterogeneous IoT-enabled networks generally accommodate both jitter-tolerant traffic and jitter-intolerant traffic. Optical burst-switched backbone networks are handling the resultant volumes of such traffic by transmitting it in huge-size chunks called bursts. Because of the lack or limited buffering capabilities within the core network, contentions as well as congestion may frequently occur, thus affecting overall supportable quality of service (QoS). Both contention and congestion will be characterized by frequent burst losses, especially when traffic levels surge. The congestion is normally resolved by way of deflecting contending bursts to other less congested paths even though this may lead to differential delays incurred by bursts as they traverse the network. This will contribute to undesirable jitter that may ultimately compromise overall QoS. Noting that jitter is mostly caused by deflection routing which itself is a result of poor wavelength and routing assigning, in this paper we propose a controllable deflection routing scheme that allows the deflection of bursts to alternate paths only after controller buffer preset thresholds are surpassed. In this way, bursts intended for a common destination are always most likely to be routed on the same or least-cost path end-to-end. We describe the scheme and compare its performance to other existing approaches. Both analytical and simulation results overall show that the proposed scheme does lower both congestion and jitter, thus also improving throughput as well as avoiding congestion on deflection paths.

The increasing interconnectivity and digital transformation of Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) systems have expanded their attack surface, rendering traditional perimeter-based security models inadequate for protecting these critical infrastructures. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), founded on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” offers a paradigm shift towards continuous, context-aware security. This paper presents a literature review investigating the application of ZTA principles to secure modern CNS ecosystems, following the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) through its Cybersecurity Strategy and Plan. We analyze the alignment of ZTA core tenets—such as least-privilege access, micro-segmentation, and continuous authentication—with the unique operational requirements of CNS systems. This paper also presents a cybersecurity framework, under development within the Future Communications Digital Infrastructure (FCDI) project of the SESAR JU program, which aims to assist CNS stakeholders in collaboratively identifying cybersecurity threats within their scope of responsibility. The review critically examines implementation challenges for specific CNS subsystems: secure aeronautical communications (e.g., LDACS), resilient PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) services, and integrated surveillance networks (e.g., ADS-B, multilateration). Furthermore, we identify and evaluate domain-specific challenges, including integration with legacy avionics and ground systems, managing stringent latency and reliability constraints, and protecting against sophisticated threats targeting supply chains and data fusion processes. By synthesizing current research and practical deployment insights, this review aims to provide a foundational reference for aerospace engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and policymakers, offering a roadmap to enhance the cyber-resilience of vital CNS infrastructure in an era of evolving digital threats.

The increasing demand for high-speed, reliable, and fair network services in multi-gigabit-wide area networks (WANs) has necessitated the development of advanced bandwidth allocation mechanisms. This paper proposes a Fair and QoS-Aware Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (FQ-DBA) algorithm designed to address the dual challenges of fairness and Quality of Service (QoS) prioritisation in multi-gigabit networks. FQ-DBA dynamically allocates bandwidth to ensure equitable distribution among users while meeting the stringent QoS requirements of high-priority traffic, such as VoIP and video streaming. The algorithm integrates traffic classification, fairness enforcement, and QoS-aware allocation to optimise network performance. Simulation results demonstrate that FQ-DBA achieves a high fairness index, meets QoS guarantees, and maximises throughput while minimising latency. The proposed framework is scalable, energy-efficient, and compatible with existing network protocols, making it a promising solution for next-generation WANs.