IonQ Delivers Large-Scale Operational Quantum Key Distribution Network in Europe
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IonQ has delivered a large-scale operational quantum key distribution (QKD) network across Europe, establishing one of the most extensive deployments of its kind outside of China. The nationwide network, built in partnership with the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest and RoEduNet, spans Romania with 36 quantum-secured links exceeding 1,500 kilometers and connects six major metropolitan areas. This project represents a significant step forward in safeguarding critical communications against evolving cyber threats and contributes to the realization of EuroQCI, Europe’s flagship quantum communication infrastructure. “IonQ is proud to support this large operational quantum-secure communications network deployed in Europe, and to directly contribute to the realization of EuroQCI,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. The network accounts for over 20 percent of Europe’s terrestrial quantum communications infrastructure and establishes a foundation for secure data exchange. European QKD Network Deployment with IonQ Technology Romania now boasts over 1,500 kilometers of quantum-secured communication links, a substantial portion of Europe’s growing quantum infrastructure, thanks to a newly deployed network utilizing technology from IonQ. This initiative is not merely a technological demonstration; it’s a practical implementation designed to safeguard sensitive data across vital sectors. The network interconnects six major Romanian metropolitan areas – Bucharest, Iași, Timișoara, Craiova, Cluj-Napoca, and Constanța – employing IonQ’s commercially available QKD technology integrated into a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network. This allows for simultaneous transmission of encrypted keys and conventional data traffic in the C-band, ensuring secure data movement.
Professor Pantelimon George Popescu, Head of the Quantum Computing Laboratory at POLITEHNICA Bucharest, emphasized the network’s broader significance, stating, “Our newly deployed national QKD infrastructure is an important milestone both for Romania and for the EuroQCI effort.” The project involved a collaborative effort from 12 Romanian universities, seven research institutes, three national agencies, and various public and private stakeholders, demonstrating a unified approach to bolstering national security and contributing to a pan-European quantum ecosystem. All QKD systems were supplied by ID Quantique, ensuring consistent performance and interoperability across the network. Romania has established a substantial quantum network spanning 1,500 kilometers, positioning it as a significant player in Europe’s burgeoning quantum communications landscape. This deployment isn’t simply a technological exercise, but a functional system designed to secure data transmission across diverse sectors, including government, healthcare, research, education, and data centers. ID Quantique systems are at the heart of a newly established, large-scale quantum key distribution (QKD) network in Romania, a project demonstrating the feasibility of national-level quantum-secure communications. This network establishes a practical foundation for secure data exchange across Romania and contributes to the broader European effort to build interoperable quantum communications networks. Prof.
Pantelimon George Popescu, Head of the Quantum Computing Laboratory at POLITEHNICA Bucharest IonQ’s Quantum Computing Performance & Future Roadmap Romania’s recent deployment of a nationwide quantum key distribution (QKD) network, built exclusively with IonQ’s commercially available technology, signifies a substantial leap toward scalable, operational quantum-secure communications for national infrastructure. This complex system utilizes Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) to simultaneously transmit encrypted keys and conventional data in C-band across metropolitan areas, enhancing both security and efficiency. IonQ’s involvement extends beyond Romania, with ongoing efforts to accelerate quantum-secure communications throughout Europe as part of the EuroQCI initiative; the company recently partnered with the Slovak Academy of Sciences to establish Slovakia’s first national quantum communication network and launched the Geneva Quantum Network in Switzerland. The company’s commitment is further reinforced by joining Q-Alliance with the Italian government and designating Oxford, UK, as its EMEA headquarters. Looking ahead, IonQ is focused on enhancing its quantum computing capabilities, with the forthcoming IonQ Tempo poised to build upon a lineage of advanced systems already delivering performance gains for partners like Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance and demonstrating progress toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing and networking. “This network establishes a practical foundation for secure data exchange across Romania and contributes to the broader European effort to build interoperable quantum communications networks.” Our newly deployed national QKD infrastructure is an important milestone both for Romania and for the EuroQCI effort. Prof.
Pantelimon George Popescu, Head of the Quantum Computing Laboratory at POLITEHNICA Bucharest Source: https://www.ionq.com/news/ionq-delivers-one-of-the-largest-operational-quantum-key-distribution-networks-in-europe Tags: