Objective 1: Joint use of existing fiber infrastructures by classic communications and QKD.
The main aim of QKD-TELCO is to facilitate the joint use of existing fiber infrastructures by classical communication as well as quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. A crosstalk-robust system design will guarantee that a high key rate can be retained by the QKD link despite the co-existence of either access-, metro- or long-haul telecom equipment. This comprises amplified DWDM links and DWDM routers, legacy PON and Point-to-Point systems (GPON, EPON, GbE, 10GbE) but also novel and upcoming PON standards (XG-PON, 10G-EPON, NG-PON2 and hybrid WDM/TDM PONs).
Objective 2: New applications and deployment opportunities for QKD through reduced TCO.
All commercially available QKD systems use exclusive dark fibers and therefore have only limited market relevance. The shared use of a common physical medium is the only viable way to introduce quantum technology in classic photonic communication networks as it reduces the expenditures. QKD-TELCO aims at QKD systems to be implemented in brown- and green-field telecommunication infrastructures implying a significant reduction in the total cost of ownership (TCO), also opening the door for new use cases and applications.
Objective 3: Demonstration of a QKD-enabled encryption system in a photonic communication network with classic traffic.
QKD-TELCO will implement a prototype of a complete encryption system based on polarization-entangled QKD able to operate on the same transmission fiber as classical signals. Reference telecom architectures will serve as laboratory test-beds for long-haul, metro- and access environments serving a heterogeneity of services. Optimal routing strategies for the quantum channel and its corresponding classic communication (encrypted + public) in mesh-like network architectures will be exploited in order to ensure high secure key rates.
