Security Challenges and Solutions in 6G and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Networks

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Networks".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 16

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Green Energy and Information Technology, National Taitung University, Taitung 950017, Taiwan
Interests: Applied cryptography, computer security, database, communication system

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Guest Editor
National Taipei University of Technology, Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
Interests: Software Security; Software Testing; Telecommunication; Finite Element

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The evolution toward sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems introduces groundbreaking capabilities such as ultra-low latency, massive device connectivity, and ubiquitous global coverage. To achieve these goals, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are expected to play a pivotal role by extending the reach of terrestrial 6G networks, especially in remote and underserved areas. However, this integration of space and terrestrial infrastructures brings a host of unprecedented security and privacy challenges.

6G is envisioned to be fundamentally AI-driven and deeply integrated with intelligent network orchestration and autonomous decision-making. This architecture demands secure, adaptive, and context-aware security mechanisms at all layers of the communication stack. Additionally, with the Rise In Quantum computing, 6G networks are expected to incorporate post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) primitives to ensure forward secrecy and resilience against quantum-level attacks, especially in critical domains like satellite-based key exchange, authentication, and data integrity.

In contrast to traditional satellite communications, LEO satellites operate in dynamic, large-scale constellations with frequent inter-satellite handovers, high mobility, and constrained onboard resources. These factors expose 6G/LEO systems to new attack surfaces and increase the complexity of secure protocol design, trust establishment, and key management in heterogeneous and delay-prone environments.

This Special Issue aims to gather original research and comprehensive reviews that explore the security, privacy, and trust challenges arising in the convergence of 6G and LEO satellite networks. We welcome interdisciplinary work bridging communication theory, cryptography, AI, and space systems.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Security architectures for integrated 6G–LEO systems;
  • Post-quantum cryptography and key management for space networks;
  • AI-driven security orchestration in LEO-enabled 6G environments;
  • Lightweight and quantum-resistant cryptographic protocols for satellites;
  • Trust and authentication frameworks across space–terrestrial interfaces;
  • Secure routing, beamforming, and handover protocols in LEO constellations;
  • Privacy-preserving schemes for 6G satellite-enabled IoT and MTC (machine-type communication);
  • Physical-layer security and jamming resilience in space–air–ground links;
  • Blockchain and decentralized identity for inter-satellite trust management;
  • Attack modeling and threat detection for 6G satellite systems;

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the aforementioned topics.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to advance the secure, intelligent, and quantum-resilient deployment of next-generation 6G satellite communication systems.

Dr. Wenbin Hsieh
Dr. Shiang-Jiun Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • 6G security
  • LEO satellites
  • post-quantum cryptography
  • AI-driven networks
  • space–terrestrial integration
  • secure satellite communications

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