Quantum Computing Inc partners with Ciena on quantum-secured demo
Quantum Computing Inc and Ciena conducted a joint demonstration of next-generation quantum-secured communications at OFC 2026 to address current and future cybersecurity threats.
The companies described an approach that combined optical-layer encryption with quantum-secure and post-quantum cryptographic techniques, which the announcement said was designed to mitigate present cybersecurity threats and risks posed by quantum computers running Shor's algorithm.
The demonstration integrated Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), quantum authentication, classical authentication, and AES-256-GCM optical encryption. QCi presented a time-frequency entanglement-based QKD architecture using telecom-band photons and noted a hardware implementation of Quantum Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) (QZEK-P) that received the 2023 Edison Patent Award. Ciena demonstrated AES-256-GCM optical encryption scaling up to 1.6 Tb/s with support for NIST-certified Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and ETSI-standard Application Programming Interface (API) interworking for third-party QKD systems.
The live event took place in the Corporate Village at Booth #5355 and required prior approval for viewing. The release also noted that QCi completed an acquisition of Luminar Semiconductor, Inc. in February 2026, which the company said accelerated its technology roadmap and expanded manufacturing capabilities and its product portfolio to photonics and optics components, subsystems, and systems.
“This collaboration demonstrates how quantum-secured communications can move from theory to deployment,” said Pouya Dianat, Chief Revenue Officer of QCi. “For businesses and network operators handling sensitive data, the shift towards quantum-safe communications has already begun,” said Paulina Gomez, Senior Advisor, Portfolio Marketing at Ciena. “Our easy-to-deploy solution delivers high-speed quantum-safe communications straight out of the box, without impacting performance, to protect critical in-flight data today while preparing for the quantum future. Collaborating with QCi demonstrates how our commercially available optical encryption can be deployed in real-world network environments with QKD technology to quantum-secure communication channels against even the most advanced threats.”
The press release included forward-looking statements under Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and said those statements involved risks and uncertainties, including the ability of the integrated solution to address current and future cybersecurity and quantum threats, the performance of QCi's and Ciena's products as an integrated system, and that QCi undertook no obligation to update or revise those statements.