Lightweight elliptic curve cryptography for SDN-managed secure communication in 6G wireless sensor networks
Ashok Kumar Sainiashok.saini@jaipur.manipal.eduDepartment of Computer Science & EngineeringManipal University JaipurJaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, IndiaView full profile → , Manoj Wadhwamanojkw11@yahoo.comDepartment of Computer Science & EngineeringUniversity Institute of EngineeringChandigarh UniversityMohali, Punjab, 140413, IndiaView full profile → , Richa Rawalricharawal@skit.ac.inDepartment of Information TechnologySwami Keshvanand Institute of Technology, Management & GramothanJaipur, Rajasthan, 302017, IndiaView full profile → , Sanat Jainsanatjain@vitbhopal.ac.inDepartment of Computer Science & EngineeringSchool of Computing Science & EngineeringVIT Bhopal UniversitySehore, Madhya Pradesh, 466114, IndiaView full profile → , Reenu Batrareenubatra88@gmail.comDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringSchool of Engineering & TechnologyK. R. Mangalam UniversityGurugram, Haryana, 122103, IndiaView full profile → , *Prashant VatsCorresponding authorprashant.vats@jaipur.manipal.eduDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringManipal University JaipurJaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, IndiaView full profile →
* Corresponding author · click or hover a name for details
- Received:
- 01 Jan 2026
- Published Online:
- 14 Aug 2026
- Article type:
- Research Article
- Language:
- EN
- Article no.:
- JDMSC-2744
- Pages:
- 3167–3176
Abstract
Sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication is anticipated to support massive sensor connectivity, real-time intelligence, and ultra-reliable services, thereby intensifying security requirements in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Conventional cryptographic solutions often impose excessive computational and energy overhead on sensor nodes, limiting their applicability in 6G environments. In this work, a lightweight security framework based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is presented for Software-Defined Networking (SDN)–controlled 6G Wireless Sensor Networks. The proposed framework exploits discrete elliptic curve structures over finite fields to provide secure key establishment and data confidentiality with minimal resource consumption. SDN is employed to decouple control and data planes, enabling centralized policy enforcement, adaptive key distribution, and programmable security management.
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References
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