Quantum Computing Inc. and Ciena Demonstrate Next-Generation Quantum-Secured Communications with High-Speed Encryption using PQC and QKD at OFC 2026

Quantum Computing and Ciena announced a joint demonstration of next-generation quantum secure communications at OFC 2026.  The live demonstration showcases a comprehensive security architecture integrating quantum key distribution, quantum authentication, classical authentication, and high-performance AES-256-GCM optical encryption.

The solution is designed to address both current cybersecurity threats and future risks posed by quantum computers running Shor’s algorithm by combining optical-layer encryption with quantum-secure and post-quantum cryptographic techniques.

“This collaboration demonstrates how quantum-secured communications can move from theory to deployment,” said Pouya Dianat, Chief Revenue Officer of QCi. “By integrating our time-frequency entanglement-based QKD and quantum identity authentication technologies with Ciena’s high-capacity optical encryption solution, we are delivering a layered security approach built for real-world networks.”

The demonstration showcases how Ciena’s Waveserver platform protects critical data at scale with optical AES-256-GCM encryption scaling up to 1.6 Tb/s that supports NIST-certified post-quantum cryptography algorithms and seamless third-party QKD system interworking using an ETSI-standard API.

“For businesses and network operators handling sensitive data, the shift towards quantum-safe communications has already begun,” said Paulina Gomez, Senior Advisor, Portfolio Marketing at Ciena. “Our easy-to-deploy solution delivers high-speed quantum-safe communications straight out of the box, without impacting performance,  to protect critical in-flight data today while preparing for the quantum future. Collaborating with QCi demonstrates how our commercially available optical encryption can be deployed in real-world network environments with QKD technology to quantum-secure communication channels against even the most advanced threats.”

QCi’s system features a time-frequency entanglement-based QKD architecture using telecom-band photons for enhanced deployment stability. The solution can be augmented with Quantum Identity Authentication using Quantum Zero Knowledge Proof (QZEK-P), a hardware-based implementation of QCi’s proprietary technology recognized with the 2023 Edison Patent Award.

Source: Quantum Computing and Ciena media announcement