Abstract: There is proposed a mechanism for establishing a secure communication between network elements in a communication network. The network nodes execute an authentication procedure with an authentication network element. The authentication network may also one of the network elements as a gateway element. Then, a respective data key for the network elements authenticated is generated and distributed to the gateway element by using a secure channel between the authentication network element and the gateway element. The data keys are stored the data keys in the gateway element. When a secure communication is to be setup, a respective session key is generated in the network elements intending to participate in the secure communication. The session keys are exchanged between the network elements intending to participate in the secure communication via secure channels between the gateway element and the network elements.