Next-generation communications security tech company Q*Bird has made a significant step forward in quantum networking, with the creation of technology to allow multiple users to set up a quantum link simultaneously.
Q*Bird’s Falqon Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) architecture allows for true multipoint-to-multipoint communication. With the new Quantum Switch a network can grow to hundreds or even thousands of users without a complete redesign, and while avoiding exponential increase in hardware required by systems using a separate link for each pair of communicating parties.
This allows for large scale deployment of quantum communication within organisations such as governments, large corporates, or data sensitive chains like health or smart industry.
Q*Bird’s QKD technology offers enhanced safeguards and is immune to all known (and yet-to-be-proposed) detector side-channel attacks, providing significant security advantages over other QKD implementations.
Q*Bird’s new Falqon MQS4000 Quantum Switch enables a multi-user, multipoint-to-multipoint Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network. It has been successfully deployed and tested in the national network run by SURF, a co-operative run by Dutch education and research institutions.
“As far as we know, this has never been done commercially before. The outcome is that we have another crucial component that will allow for truly scalable quantum networks,” said Q*Bird CEO and co-founder, Ingrid Romijn.
Q*Bird is now offering this technology as a product aimed both at the quantum security market, digital infrastructure players (e.g. Telecom, data centers, etc.) and the developing market for quantum interconnects.
The new MQS4000 Quantum Switch complements and interoperates with Q*Bird’s existing MQT4000 User Node and MQX4000 Center Hub in the Falqon Series. Falqon protects fiber networks against current and future attacks, including those from quantum computers, which are predicted to soon be able to break traditional encryption methods.
In May 2024, the company announced it had raised a €2.5 million funding round to accelerate its growth in the emerging quantum security market. Since last year, Q*Bird has grown from an early-stage, three-person R&D focused company to a 21-person commercial operation that is poised to scale.
David Maier, Quantum Communication Advisor at SURF, said:
“Quantum communication is progressing quickly, and it’s time to explore its potential for future networks. By setting up a QKD testbed, SURF is taking an important step into a new infrastructure challenge that will support research and education, while contributing to the development of the foundational technologies for future quantum networks.”
Jesse Robbers, board member at Quantum Delta NL and national lead for Quantum Network Technology said:
“This is an important development in building the foundations of the next generation of digital network infrastructure. As this shows, quantum network technology is becoming mature and applicable, and ready for deployment in telecom infrastructures and datacenters, for multiple users. It also shows the impact of Quantum Delta NL’s strategy to spin technology out from knowledge institutes, develop startups, and make technology applicable.”
