Nokia, KETS scale quantum-safe security demo

Nokia and KETS Quantum Security are collaborating on a new demonstration system aimed at expanding the commercial deployment of quantum-safe telecoms security.

KETS is integrating its technology into Nokia’s global “flying kit” quantum-safe demonstration platform. The system combines Nokia optical networking equipment with KETS’ chip-based quantum key distribution modules, creating a full quantum-safe stack that the companies said can be shown to Tier-1 operators and government clients worldwide.

Nokia said it has developed a blueprint for quantum-safe telecoms deployments and already operates travelling demonstration systems to showcase end-to-end security solutions. The updated flying kit is designed to show how quantum-safe architectures can be implemented using commercially available technologies and integrated into existing network infrastructure.

KETS has delivered its QKD v2.0 unit to Nokia. The company said the same security-hardened, server-sized architecture was recently trialled by BT. By using integrated silicon chips for its optical core, KETS said the hardware can be sourced at scale while maintaining low size, weight, and power requirements.

The integrated system made its international debut at the World Defense Show in Riyadh in February. Nokia said the kit demonstrates how quantum-safe keys can be generated, transported, and consumed through a single architecture.

Lisa Matthews, CEO of KETS Quantum Security, said: “The threat of a quantum computer is not a distant problem, it is a clear and present danger. The moment a large-scale quantum computer is operational, every piece of sensitive data currently being transmitted, from financial transactions to national security secrets, will be exposed.

“Industry is calling out for a solution to this significant challenge. So seeing our chip-based technology live in Nokia’s global demo systems is a testament to the progress we are making. By embedding our hardware into the very fabric of Nokia’s ecosystem, we are proving that quantum-safe security is no longer a laboratory experiment, it is a commercially viable reality that can be deployed across global transport layers today.”

Carlo Corti, MEA Optical Networks Technical Sales Leader at Nokia, said: “We are pleased to welcome KETS Quantum Security into our quantum-safe partner ecosystem. By integrating their Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) hardware into our global ‘flying kit’ demonstration system, we are showing how their technology participates in a holistic, end-to-end solution to provide quantum-safe outcomes.”