Adaptive Covert Communication Framework for 6G Networks Integrating Quantum Cryptography and AI-Augmented Physical Layer Security

The novel 6G-communication systems offer unparalleled opportunities in terms of reliability, speed and intelligence of the communication path. However, the characteristics of 6G network include dynamic nature and various type of nodes which make scenario more complex and open to various types of security threats such as advanced attacker and quantum attacker. As a result, this paper introduces an Adaptive Covert Communication Framework that combines quantum cryptography, and artificial intelligent-based physical layer security, and covert communication methods for secure and undetectable signal transmission. It uses the BB84 protocol for quantum key distribution and realizes the secure key rate up to 784 kbps over 10 km of quantum channel with 2 percent photon loss per kilometer. The AI models are used in real-time threat monitoring coupled with real-time reconfiguring in case of an adversarial situation, hence ensuring the detection probability of 5% during adversarial movements. Additional measures are added into the communication paradigm to ensure that the probability of interception is significantly reduced while offering a very high data rate of 1.2Gbps through frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and signal obfuscation. The system also ensures energy efficiency with energy consumption of only 0.1 J/bit and thus has the possibility of being applied in different 6G applications. The analysis of different types of attacks demonstrates that the framework remains stable under different types of attacks such as jamming attack and quantum eavesdropping attack. The results show that the proposed framework can fit the current and future 6G security requirements to deliver efficient end-to-end protection in next-generation networks.