Achieving a reliable and secure communication is the major challenge in the context of data communication and storage. In this paper, Encode-then-Encrypt framework is defined using linear error correcting codes and elliptic curves to address these challenges as a single solution rather than addressing them separately. The working of the proposed framework is explained in detail by taking Reed-Solomon codes (with a set of encoding and decoding algorithms) and elliptic curves of characteristic 2 (with a set of encryption and decryption algorithms). We have outlined the advantages of using such elliptic curves and error correcting codes over any other cryptosystem defined in the existing literature. The proposed framework can be implemented as a part of any real-time communication system to ensure reliability and security. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.