Ciena, Toshiba, and Quantum Corridor completed a trial of 1.6 terabits per second (Tb/s) quantum-safe optical encryption. The test ran on a live commercial network. Quantum Corridor's network hosted the trial between data centers in Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. The trial showcased a hybrid security approach, combining post-quantum cryptography (PQC) with quantum key distribution (QKD).
Ciena's WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) coherent optics and Waveserver platform handled the 1.6 Tb/s encrypted connection. Toshiba provided its QKD servers, which generate and distribute highly secure encryption keys. This milestone demonstrates the feasibility of protecting high-speed data networks from future quantum computer threats. It addresses the risk of "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks without requiring a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure.