Experimental Validation of Provably Covert Communication Using Software-Defined Radio

Abstract

The fundamental information-theoretic limits of covert, or low probability of detection/intercept (LPD/LPI), communication have been extensively studied for over a decade, resulting in the square root law (SRL): only $L\sqrt{n}$ covert bits can be reliably transmitted over time-bandwidth product $n$, for constant $L>0$. Transmitting more either results in detection or decoding errors. The SRL imposes significant constraints on hardware realization of mathematically-guaranteed covert communication. Indeed, they preclude using standard link maintenance operations that are taken for granted in non-covert communication. Thus, experimental validation of covert communication is underexplored: to date, only two experimental studies of SRL-based covert communication are available, both focusing on optical channels. Here, we report a demonstration of provably-secure covert radio-frequency (RF) communication using software-defined radios (SDRs). This validates theoretical predictions, opens practical avenues for implementing covert communication systems, and raises further research questions.