Quantum Corridor, Ciena and Toshiba have announced the successful completion of a high-speed quantum-safe networking trial on Quantum Corridor’s live commercial network in the Midwest United States.
The trial aimed to demonstrate how organizations can protect critical in-flight data using a hybrid security approach, and combined Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) 1.6 Tb/s quantum-safe encryption capabilities, which supports NIST-certified Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms, with Toshiba’s Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology.
Conducted across Quantum Corridor’s live production network between data centers in Chicago and Hammond, Ind., the trial successfully validated 1.6 Tb/s of encrypted connectivity using Ciena’s Waveserver platform powered by WL6e, alongside existing WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) 800G encrypted traffic running on the same RLS photonic line system. The trial also showcased interworking with Toshiba’s QKD servers, which provide quantum-generated keys to both Ciena’s optical encryption systems.
The announcement said that the solution aims to support both PQC and QKD, so that network operators have flexibility in how they mitigate the threat of quantum computers to today’s encryption solutions, particularly from “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. For enterprises and service providers, this approach offers a practical migration path to quantum-safe networking without requiring a wholesale replacement of existing infrastructure.
“Quantum-safe networking is no longer a ‘future’ discussion,” said Ryan Lafler, President & CTO, Quantum Corridor. “By validating 1.6 Tb/s encrypted connectivity with both PQC and QKD on our live network, we’re demonstrating how we can help customers transition to a quantum secure solution while continuing to support the bandwidth demands of AI, cloud, and mission-critical applications.”
“The shift to quantum-safe communications is no longer optional for organizations handling sensitive data,” said Dino DiPerna, Senior Vice President, Global Research and Development, Ciena. “This major milestone highlights how high-speed optical encryption with PQC and/or QKD interworking can be easily deployed in real-world network environments to help customers protect critical data today while preparing for the threat of quantum computers.”
“Preparing for the quantum era requires a layered approach to cybersecurity,” said Terry Cronin, Vice President, Toshiba Corporation. “Quantum Key Distribution complements post-quantum cryptography by adding a physical layer of security that strengthens the protection of critical communications. These complementary technologies can be deployed together in high-speed optical networks, giving organizations a practical path to quantum-safe communications while protecting today’s most sensitive data.”
