Current technological progress is driving Quantum Key Distribution towards a commercial and worldwide scale expansion. Its capability to deliver secure communication regardless of the computational power of the attackers will be a fundamental feature in the next generations of telecommunication networks. Nevertheless, demonstrations of QKD implementation in a real operating scenario and their coexistence with the classical telecom infrastructure are of fundamental importance for reliable exploitation. Here we present a Quantum Key Distribution application implemented over a classical fiber-based infrastructure. We exploit a 50 MHz source at 1550 nm, a single 13 km-long fiber cable for both the quantum and the classical channel, and a simplified receiver scheme with just one single-photon detector. In this way, we achieve an error rate of approximately 2% and a secret key rate of about 1.7 kbps, thus demonstrating the feasibility of low-cost and ready-to-use Quantum Key Distribution systems compatible with standard classical infrastructure.
Deployment-ready quantum key distribution over a classical network infrastructure in Padua
Avesani M.;Foletto G.;Padovan M.;Calderaro L.;Agnesi C.;Bazzani E.;Berra F.;Bertapelle T.;Picciariello F.;Santagiustina F.;Scalcon D.;Scriminich A.;Stanco A.;Vedovato F.;Vallone G.;Villoresi P.
2022
Abstract
Current technological progress is driving Quantum Key Distribution towards a commercial and worldwide scale expansion. Its capability to deliver secure communication regardless of the computational power of the attackers will be a fundamental feature in the next generations of telecommunication networks. Nevertheless, demonstrations of QKD implementation in a real operating scenario and their coexistence with the classical telecom infrastructure are of fundamental importance for reliable exploitation. Here we present a Quantum Key Distribution application implemented over a classical fiber-based infrastructure. We exploit a 50 MHz source at 1550 nm, a single 13 km-long fiber cable for both the quantum and the classical channel, and a simplified receiver scheme with just one single-photon detector. In this way, we achieve an error rate of approximately 2% and a secret key rate of about 1.7 kbps, thus demonstrating the feasibility of low-cost and ready-to-use Quantum Key Distribution systems compatible with standard classical infrastructure.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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