Quantum Corridor and Toshiba showcase cross-state quantum-secured distribution over a live fiber network
Key Highlights
- The demonstration used Toshiba’s multiplexed QKD technology integrated with Ciena’s high-speed coherent transport systems to secure data over a 21.8 km fiber link.
- Quantum-generated keys achieved an average rate of 1,500 kbps, supporting AES-256-GCM encryption with 100% line-rate throughput and zero packet loss over 48 hours.
- The project emphasizes interoperability, scalability, and the potential for deploying quantum-safe networks across critical infrastructure sectors today.
- Partnerships from the Chicago Quantum Exchange and regional organizations played a crucial role in advancing quantum ecosystem development.
- This real-world proof-of-concept signals a significant step toward widespread adoption of quantum-secure communications in commercial and government networks.
Quantum Corridor, a quantum-capable fiber network provider, has moved the quantum computing needle forward, joining Toshiba International Corporation and partners to demonstrate quantum-secured communication over a live metropolitan fiber network connecting Tier III data centers in Illinois and Indiana.
As part of the proof-of-concept, the team implemented Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over commercial fiber infrastructure spanning from Chicago’s ORD 10 Data Center (350 Cermak) to the Digital Crossroad Data Center (100 Digital Crossroad Drive) in Hammond, Ind.
The experiment validated the use of Toshiba’s multiplexed QKD technology and Ciena’s high-speed coherent transport systems to deliver continuous, secure key generation and high-throughput encryption across a 21.8km segment of Quantum Corridor’s live high-capacity optical network.
With QKD, the cryptographic key is co-generated through the interplay of quantum physics— where single photons’ quantum states establish correlated randomness— and classical communication, which reconciles and verifies that randomness into an identical secret key at both ends.
“Working with Toshiba and our regional partners, we’ve shown that quantum-safe networking can be deployed today—on existing infrastructure—to protect the data that underpins our most critical systems,” said Ryan Lafler, president and CTO of Quantum Corridor.
Focus on interoperability and scalability
For this proof-of-concept, Toshiba, Ciena and other participants centered their efforts on interoperability and scalability of QKD.
Toshiba’s ETSI-compliant QKD systems enabled the network to achieve secure key rates averaging 1,500 kbps, which the participants said exceeded typical field expectations. These quantum-generated keys were integrated into Ciena Waveserver 5 800G coherent encryption modules, which provided AES-256-GCM encryption.
Ciena’s 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) served as the photonic layer. Each location was fitted with a 4RU-high R4 chassis equipped with a C-band Reconfigurable Add-Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) RLA.
The FIPS 140-3 Level 2 certified solution securely obtained a fresh set of QKD keys every 90 seconds, showcasing the interoperability and scalability of quantum-secured transport in a commercial setting.
According to the group, the system maintained 100% line-rate throughput and zero packet loss over 48 hours of continuous encrypted traffic, demonstrating the readiness of QKD for real-world, high-availability network operations—offering nearly instantaneous and secure quantum communications that can be applied to data in finance, healthcare, defense and government applications.
Quantum Corridor noted in a white paper that the implementation of quantum-secure communication over Quantum Corridor's live, commercial metropolitan network through the integration of Toshiba’s QKD system with Ciena’s high-speed encryption equipment demonstrated consistent, high-rate key generation and stable, 800 Gbps encrypted data transfer between two interstate Tier III data centers.
Terry Cronin, VP of Business Development at Toshiba International Corporation, said this demonstration "opens the door to faster innovation, broader adoption, and stronger collaboration across the quantum ecosystem, accelerating customer adoption of quantum-secure networks.”
What is the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE)?
With locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is focused on driving the science and engineering of quantum information, preparing the quantum workforce, and driving the quantum economy in collaboration with major universities, national labs, and industry partners. The CQE is based at the University of Chicago and anchored by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University. The community includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners.
A partnership approach
A key element of the approach is that it focuses on local partners.
CQE’s corporate partners, the Quantum Corridor and Toshiba collaboration, grew from the Chicago Quantum Exchange partnership program, which accelerates the progress of quantum innovations by connecting organizations to advance research and development and address gaps in the quantum ecosystem.
Quantum Corridor piloted this project using Toshiba QKD equipment that was on loan to the Chicago Quantum Exchange. Toshiba’s MU QKD system is designed to multiplex both classical DWDM channels and the quantum and control channels used for key generation.
Quantum Corridor dedicated a fiber pair to the QKD system, independent of the classical DWDM channels on the RLS system, due to a wavelength conflict between the two systems that were on hand.
Also, a University of Chicago graduate student provided valuable input on the use of the QKD unit.
“The partnerships that fueled this work highlight the essential role of collaboration across borders and between organizations in accelerating quantum technology development,” said Dr. David Awschalom, the University of Chicago’s Liew Family professor of molecular engineering and the director of the CQE. “This is why building a strong quantum ecosystem matters.”
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Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategy of Lightwave across its website, email newsletters, events, and other information products.