Long term performance of the SwissQuantum quantum key distribution network in a field environment

TL;DR

This study evaluates the long-term reliability and performance of the SwissQuantum quantum key distribution network in a real-world metropolitan environment over 1.5 years, demonstrating its practical viability for secure communications.

Contribution

It provides the first long-term field performance data of a QKD network in a production environment, including key management and user integration.

Findings

Reliable operation over 1.5 years in a real environment

Successful integration with end-user applications

Demonstrated practical viability of QKD networks

Abstract

In this paper, we report on the performance of the SwissQuantum quantum key distribution (QKD) network. The network was installed in the Geneva metropolitan area and run for more than one and a half years, from the end of March 2009 to the beginning of January 2011. The main goal of this experiment was to test the reliability of the quantum layer over a long period of time in a production environment. A key management layer has been developed to manage the key between the three nodes of the network. This QKD-secure network was used by end-users through an application layer.