Quantum-Safe Optical Networking: Combining PacketLight DWDM with Quantum XChange
What Is Quantum-Safe Networking? A Practical Guide for Enterprise Networks
Quantum-Safe Optical Networking: Combining PacketLight DWDM with Quantum XChange
High-capacity optical transport meets quantum-safe security
The next challenge for data center connectivity
Data Center Interconnect (DCI) networks are carrying more traffic than ever. AI workloads, cloud applications, distributed data centres and high-performance computing are driving demand for higher bandwidth, lower latency and resilient optical connectivity. At the same time, organizations face a new security challenge: protecting data in transit against the future threat of quantum computing.
Adding capacity alone no longer meets that need. Network planning now has to address performance and long-term security together, and that is where high-capacity optical transport and quantum-safe security can work side by side.
Combining high-capacity optical transport with quantum-safe security
PacketLight offers a broad portfolio of DWDM and OTN solutions for high-capacity optical transport, serving applications from DCI and metro networks to long-haul connectivity. The portfolio spans 100G, 200G, 400G and 800G transport, with platforms that aggregate multiple client services onto high-capacity DWDM wavelengths. For example, the PL-4000G delivers up to 4.8T of total capacity and supports 100GbE and 400GbE client services.
On the security side, Quantum XChange provides quantum-safe cryptographic management through its Phio TX platform. Phio TX helps organizations adopt post-quantum cryptography while continuing to use their existing supported network and security infrastructure, and it supports industry-standard approaches including Cisco SKIP and ETSI GS QKD 014.
Together, the two technologies give organizations a foundation for building high-capacity optical networks with quantum-safe security.
High-capacity DWDM network with a quantum-safe architecture
The architecture brings together three layers.
1. High-capacity optical transport
PacketLight DWDM and OTN platforms form the transport layer that connects data centres, campuses, cloud environments and other critical locations. Depending on network requirements, organizations can deploy 200G, 400G or 800G transport, with scalable architectures that accommodate future capacity growth.
2. Layer-1 security
PacketLight’s optical transport portfolio includes embedded Layer-1 encryption, which protects data in transit while maintaining full throughput. Layer-1 encryption can be enabled on individual client interfaces or on DWDM links over dark fiber, with solutions available across a range of transport rates.
3. Quantum-safe cryptographic management
Quantum XChange adds a cryptographic management layer that helps organizations prepare their encryption infrastructure for the transition to post-quantum security. Because Phio TX is built on open, industry standard protocols, it can integrate with existing networks that support Layer-1 encryption with a legacy key-exchange method, such as PacketLight systems. Organizations can therefore upgrade to a quantum-safe network without replacing their infrastructure.
Quantum XChange’s out-of-band key-exchange platform, which supports QKD and PQC, works alongside PacketLight’s DWDM solutions to separate the key-exchange layer from the data-path encryption layer. Each layer can then be upgraded independently without affecting the other.
Security that scales with your network
A key advantage of this approach is that quantum-safe security does not require redesigning the optical network. Organizations can continue to upgrade their transport capacity, and security capabilities can evolve alongside it.
For enterprise DCI and metro applications, PacketLight’s platforms provide high-capacity transport over DWDM wavelengths supporting 100G to 800G per wavelength and a flexible mix of client services, with optional Layer-1 encryption.
PacketLight’s optical transport platforms supply the high-capacity, resilient transport layer, while Quantum XChange provides future-proofed, quantum-safe cryptographic key management.
Protect existing infrastructure, prepare for what’s next
A quantum-safe strategy does not necessarily mean replacing everything an organization already has. PacketLight’s standards-based optical transport architecture is designed to interoperate with third-party networking equipment, and Quantum XChange’s Phio TX is designed to integrate with existing network and security infrastructure using industry-standard protocols. This allows organizations to take a phased approach:
- Start from the existing network. Keep the infrastructure already in place.
- Add high-capacity DWDM / OTN transport at the capacity the network requires.
- Enable Layer-1 security to protect data in transit.
- Introduce quantum-safe cryptographic management, arriving at a future-ready, secure DCI.
Rather than waiting for quantum computing to become an immediate operational threat, organizations can begin preparing their infrastructure today.
Where this solution applies
The combined approach is particularly relevant for data centre operators, financial institutions, telecommunications providers and other organizations that require high-capacity connectivity and long-term data protection.
Build your quantum-safe network with Starview
Starview Technologies is an Authorized Distributor of Quantum XChange, providing access to quantum-safe cryptographic management solutions for organizations preparing for the post-quantum era. Together with PacketLight’s DWDM and OTN solutions, Starview can help customers design and deploy high-capacity, secure and future-ready optical networks based on their existing environment and requirements.
Whether you are planning a new Data Center Interconnect, upgrading optical transport capacity or exploring a roadmap toward quantum-safe security, our team can help you evaluate the right architecture for your network.
Ready to Explore Quantum-Safe Networking?
Talk to Starview Technologies about your DCI, DWDM/OTN and quantum-safe security requirements.