Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems have the potential to provide secure communication by offering unconditionally secure key exchange between distant parties. However, the integration of QKD into existing communication networks presents challenges, particularly when it comes to the deployment of...
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IEEE
2025-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Photonics Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10795138/ |
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| author | Matheus Sena Georg Harder Ronny Doring Ralf-Peter Braun Michaela Ritter Oliver Holschke Marc Kaplan Marc Geitz |
| author_facet | Matheus Sena Georg Harder Ronny Doring Ralf-Peter Braun Michaela Ritter Oliver Holschke Marc Kaplan Marc Geitz |
| author_sort | Matheus Sena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems have the potential to provide secure communication by offering unconditionally secure key exchange between distant parties. However, the integration of QKD into existing communication networks presents challenges, particularly when it comes to the deployment of trusted nodes and the establishment of secure connections over metropolitan distances. In this study, we present a novel approach to address these issues by introducing a trusted-node-free design on a metropolitan scale for the seamless integration of a QKD system into the Berlin OpenQKD optical fiber testbed. Our innovative design leverages conventional telecom modulators and a standard Wavelength-Division Multiplexing - Arrayed Waveguide Grating (WDM-AWG), offering a practical solution for flexible multi-partner communication and enabling full connectivity between non-adjacent nodes. In this study, we not only observed relatively low QBER (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$< $</tex-math></inline-formula> 5.5%) but also a rather stable key rate between nodes in the Qline system over approximately 130 hours (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\approx$</tex-math></inline-formula> 5.4 days) for a lab-based back-to-back setup. Later on, a more complex experimental scheme is integrated into Berlin OpenQKD optical fiber testbed encompassing multiple C-band frequencies (191.75–195.75 THz) and extending over metropolitan distances (up to 39.8 km), providing a foundation for secure quantum communication networks with enhanced scalability and versatility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7d183f7bd7e3461d956503fff65eae6f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1943-0655 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Photonics Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-7d183f7bd7e3461d956503fff65eae6f2025-01-07T00:00:15ZengIEEEIEEE Photonics Journal1943-06552025-01-0117111110.1109/JPHOT.2024.351613810795138Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD TestbedMatheus Sena0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8592-1495Georg Harder1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8425-5912Ronny Doring2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6748-8280Ralf-Peter Braun3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9433-5391Michaela Ritter4Oliver Holschke5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8339-8146Marc Kaplan6https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5550-8859Marc Geitz7https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3333-6733Deutsche Telekom AG, Berlin, GermanyVeriQloud, Montrouge, FranceDeutsche Telekom AG, Berlin, GermanyORBIT Ges. für Applikations- und Informationssysteme mbH, Bonn, GermanyDeutsche Telekom AG, Berlin, GermanyDeutsche Telekom AG, Berlin, GermanyVeriQloud, Montrouge, FranceDeutsche Telekom AG, Berlin, GermanyQuantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems have the potential to provide secure communication by offering unconditionally secure key exchange between distant parties. However, the integration of QKD into existing communication networks presents challenges, particularly when it comes to the deployment of trusted nodes and the establishment of secure connections over metropolitan distances. In this study, we present a novel approach to address these issues by introducing a trusted-node-free design on a metropolitan scale for the seamless integration of a QKD system into the Berlin OpenQKD optical fiber testbed. Our innovative design leverages conventional telecom modulators and a standard Wavelength-Division Multiplexing - Arrayed Waveguide Grating (WDM-AWG), offering a practical solution for flexible multi-partner communication and enabling full connectivity between non-adjacent nodes. In this study, we not only observed relatively low QBER (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$< $</tex-math></inline-formula> 5.5%) but also a rather stable key rate between nodes in the Qline system over approximately 130 hours (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\approx$</tex-math></inline-formula> 5.4 days) for a lab-based back-to-back setup. Later on, a more complex experimental scheme is integrated into Berlin OpenQKD optical fiber testbed encompassing multiple C-band frequencies (191.75–195.75 THz) and extending over metropolitan distances (up to 39.8 km), providing a foundation for secure quantum communication networks with enhanced scalability and versatility.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10795138/Quantum key distributionquantum communicationsfield-deployed optical fiber |
| spellingShingle | Matheus Sena Georg Harder Ronny Doring Ralf-Peter Braun Michaela Ritter Oliver Holschke Marc Kaplan Marc Geitz Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed IEEE Photonics Journal Quantum key distribution quantum communications field-deployed optical fiber |
| title | Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed |
| title_full | Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed |
| title_fullStr | Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed |
| title_short | Deploying the Qline System for a QKD Metropolitan Network on the Berlin OpenQKD Testbed |
| title_sort | deploying the qline system for a qkd metropolitan network on the berlin openqkd testbed |
| topic | Quantum key distribution quantum communications field-deployed optical fiber |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10795138/ |
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