Ciena, Toshiba Successfully Demonstrate 1.6 Tb/s Quantum-Safe Optical Encryption on Live Commercial Network

August 9, 2026

Fierce Network USA

Overview

Ciena, Toshiba, and Quantum Corridor have successfully completed a trial of 1.6 Tb/s quantum-safe optical encryption on a live commercial network. This test integrated NIST-certified post-quantum cryptography (PQC) with quantum key distribution (QKD) to protect data in transit, demonstrating that existing Ciena customers could adopt PQC through software upgrades. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced data security solutions in the quantum era, leveraging current infrastructure.

In Depth

Key Findings

Ciena, Toshiba, and Quantum Corridor have successfully concluded a trial demonstrating 1.6 Terabits per second (Tb/s) quantum-safe optical encryption on a live commercial network in the Midwest. This landmark achievement verifies the feasibility of high-speed data transmission combined with robust quantum-resilient security measures.

Technical / Clinical Details

The trial integrated two critical technologies: NIST-certified Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which leverages quantum mechanics to generate and distribute unbreakable encryption keys. By combining Ciena’s optical platforms with Toshiba’s QKD systems, the project achieved secure and high-throughput data transfer over existing communication infrastructure. A particularly significant outcome is the demonstration that Ciena’s current customers could potentially adopt PQC functionalities through software upgrades. This offers a cost-effective and rapid migration path to protect data against future quantum computer attacks without requiring extensive hardware overhauls.

Background & Context

The progression of quantum computing poses a significant threat to current public-key encryption systems, compelling governments and enterprises worldwide to accelerate their transition to quantum-resilient cryptographic technologies. Industries handling sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and defense, urgently require long-term data protection strategies. This trial, by demonstrating high-throughput quantum-safe encryption in a practical environment, provides a concrete solution for this transition and maximizes the utility of existing network assets.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

This successful trial represents a major step towards the commercial deployment of quantum-safe communication technologies. Integrated PQC and QKD solutions are expected to see accelerated adoption in sectors demanding high security, including government agencies, financial institutions, and inter-data center communications. Especially within the context of proliferating software-defined networks, implementing PQC using existing infrastructure offers substantial benefits in terms of cost-efficiency and deployment speed. The collaboration between Ciena and Toshiba is poised to contribute significantly to building the foundational infrastructure for the quantum internet, playing a crucial role in shaping the future of data security.

Source: https://www.fiercenetwork.com/wireless/ciena-toshiba-complete-quantum-networking-trial-live-midwest-network

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