Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial

Konstantinos Tsimvrakidis; Alkinoos Papageorgopoulos; Florian Kutschera; Stephan Laschet; Sebastian Ramacher; Paul James; Luca Torresetti; Nikolas Makris; Persefoni Konteli; Jaime S. Buruaga; Rafael J. Vicente; Yorlandy Lobaina; Juan Pedro Brito; Petros Papapetropoulos; Ilias Papastamatiou; Hannes Hübel; Vicente Martin; George T. Kanellos

doi:10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial

Konstantinos Tsimvrakidis
, Alkinoos Papageorgopoulos
, Florian Kutschera
, Stephan Laschet
, Sebastian Ramacher
, Paul James
, Luca Torresetti
, Nikolas Makris
, Persefoni Konteli
, Jaime S. Buruaga
, Rafael J. Vicente
, Yorlandy Lobaina
, Juan Pedro Brito
, Petros Papapetropoulos
, Ilias Papastamatiou
, Hannes Hübel
, Vicente Martin
, George T. Kanellos (Author and Speaker)

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
National Infrastructure for Research and Technology Network (GRNET)

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Proceedings › Conference Proceedings with Oral Presentation › peer-review

Abstract

A multi-vendor, multi-domain Quantum Key Distribution network comprising 15 nodes across three independently managed domains was deployed and operated during QCI Days 2025 in Athens. The large-scale field trial integrated heterogenous QKD technologies, multi-layer Key Management Systems, and SDN-controlled infrastructures into a unified inter-domain architecture enabling cross-domain key exchange and coordination. The setup combined in-rack domain nodes extended to a 4-node field-deployed metropolitan QKD network segment, providing a realistic operational environment for validating end-to-end functionality. Multiple QKD-enabled services were successfully supported across the federated infrastructure, proving the technical feasibility and viability of scalable QKD deployments in inter-domain settings.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2026 International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC)
Pages	216 - 223
ISBN (Electronic)	979-8-3315-6110-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038
Publication status	Published - 6 Apr 2026
Event	International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026) - Kobe, Japan Duration: 6 Apr 2026 → 8 Apr 2026 https://www.ieee-qcnc.org/2026/

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026)
Abbreviated title	QCNC 2026
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Kobe
Period	6/04/26 → 8/04/26
Internet address	https://www.ieee-qcnc.org/2026/

Research Field

Quantum Key Distribution
Quantum-Safe Cryptography

Keywords

quantumsecure networks
field-deployed QKD networks
quantum-secured services
Key Management System
Quantum Key Distribution
interoperability
QKD
SDN-controlled QKD
multi-domain QKD networks

Access to Document

10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

Cite this

Tsimvrakidis, K., Papageorgopoulos, A., Kutschera, F., Laschet, S., Ramacher, S., James, P., Torresetti, L., Makris, N., Konteli, P., Buruaga, J. S., Vicente, R. J., Lobaina, Y., Brito, J. P., Papapetropoulos, P., Papastamatiou, I., Hübel, H., Martin, V., & Kanellos, G. T. (2026). Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial. In 2026 International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC) (pp. 216 - 223) https://doi.org/10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

@inproceedings{453e2749bad24e5fa1bf9139387aa481,

title = "Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial",

abstract = "A multi-vendor, multi-domain Quantum Key Distribution network comprising 15 nodes across three independently managed domains was deployed and operated during QCI Days 2025 in Athens. The large-scale field trial integrated heterogenous QKD technologies, multi-layer Key Management Systems, and SDN-controlled infrastructures into a unified inter-domain architecture enabling cross-domain key exchange and coordination. The setup combined in-rack domain nodes extended to a 4-node field-deployed metropolitan QKD network segment, providing a realistic operational environment for validating end-to-end functionality. Multiple QKD-enabled services were successfully supported across the federated infrastructure, proving the technical feasibility and viability of scalable QKD deployments in inter-domain settings.",

keywords = "quantumsecure networks, field-deployed QKD networks, quantum-secured services, Key Management System, Quantum Key Distribution, interoperability, QKD, SDN-controlled QKD, multi-domain QKD networks",

author = "Konstantinos Tsimvrakidis and Alkinoos Papageorgopoulos and Florian Kutschera and Stephan Laschet and Sebastian Ramacher and Paul James and Luca Torresetti and Nikolas Makris and Persefoni Konteli and Buruaga, \{Jaime S.\} and Vicente, \{Rafael J.\} and Yorlandy Lobaina and Brito, \{Juan Pedro\} and Petros Papapetropoulos and Ilias Papastamatiou and Hannes H{\"u}bel and Vicente Martin and Kanellos, \{George T.\}",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

day = "6",

doi = "10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038",

language = "English",

isbn = "979-8-3315-6111-6",

pages = "216 -- 223",

booktitle = "2026 International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC)",

note = "International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026), QCNC 2026 ; Conference date: 06-04-2026 Through 08-04-2026",

url = "https://www.ieee-qcnc.org/2026/",

}

Tsimvrakidis, K, Papageorgopoulos, A, Kutschera, F , Laschet, S , Ramacher, S , James, P , Torresetti, L, Makris, N, Konteli, P, Buruaga, JS, Vicente, RJ, Lobaina, Y, Brito, JP, Papapetropoulos, P, Papastamatiou, I, Hübel, H, Martin, V & Kanellos, GT 2026, Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial. in 2026 International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC). pp. 216 - 223, International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026), Kobe, Japan, 6/04/26. https://doi.org/10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial. / Tsimvrakidis, Konstantinos; Papageorgopoulos, Alkinoos; Kutschera, Florian et al.
2026 International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC). 2026. p. 216 - 223.

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Proceedings › Conference Proceedings with Oral Presentation › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial

AU - Tsimvrakidis, Konstantinos

AU - Papageorgopoulos, Alkinoos

AU - Kutschera, Florian

AU - Laschet, Stephan

AU - Ramacher, Sebastian

AU - James, Paul

AU - Torresetti, Luca

AU - Makris, Nikolas

AU - Konteli, Persefoni

AU - Buruaga, Jaime S.

AU - Vicente, Rafael J.

AU - Lobaina, Yorlandy

AU - Brito, Juan Pedro

AU - Papapetropoulos, Petros

AU - Papastamatiou, Ilias

AU - Hübel, Hannes

AU - Martin, Vicente

A2 - Kanellos, George T.

PY - 2026/4/6

Y1 - 2026/4/6

N2 - A multi-vendor, multi-domain Quantum Key Distribution network comprising 15 nodes across three independently managed domains was deployed and operated during QCI Days 2025 in Athens. The large-scale field trial integrated heterogenous QKD technologies, multi-layer Key Management Systems, and SDN-controlled infrastructures into a unified inter-domain architecture enabling cross-domain key exchange and coordination. The setup combined in-rack domain nodes extended to a 4-node field-deployed metropolitan QKD network segment, providing a realistic operational environment for validating end-to-end functionality. Multiple QKD-enabled services were successfully supported across the federated infrastructure, proving the technical feasibility and viability of scalable QKD deployments in inter-domain settings.

AB - A multi-vendor, multi-domain Quantum Key Distribution network comprising 15 nodes across three independently managed domains was deployed and operated during QCI Days 2025 in Athens. The large-scale field trial integrated heterogenous QKD technologies, multi-layer Key Management Systems, and SDN-controlled infrastructures into a unified inter-domain architecture enabling cross-domain key exchange and coordination. The setup combined in-rack domain nodes extended to a 4-node field-deployed metropolitan QKD network segment, providing a realistic operational environment for validating end-to-end functionality. Multiple QKD-enabled services were successfully supported across the federated infrastructure, proving the technical feasibility and viability of scalable QKD deployments in inter-domain settings.

KW - quantumsecure networks

KW - field-deployed QKD networks

KW - quantum-secured services

KW - Key Management System

KW - Quantum Key Distribution

KW - interoperability

KW - QKD

KW - SDN-controlled QKD

KW - multi-domain QKD networks

UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

U2 - 10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

DO - 10.1109/qcnc69040.2026.00038

M3 - Conference Proceedings with Oral Presentation

SN - 979-8-3315-6111-6

SP - 216

EP - 223

BT - 2026 International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC)

T2 - International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026)

Y2 - 6 April 2026 through 8 April 2026

ER -

Interoperable Multi-Vendor, Multi-Domain, Multi-Layer, Multi-Service Quantum Key Distribution Network Field-Trial

Abstract

Conference

Research Field

Keywords

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