Kirq
A quantum communication testbed
Kirq is a quantum communication testbed that combines quantum technologies with classical technologies under real-life conditions. Kirq therefore reduces the costs and minimizes the risks incurred by organizations and businesses to implement these emerging technologies.
Why did Numana choose this project?
In our study “A proposed quantum technology strategy for Quebec” we recommend that Quebec invest in quantum communication infrastructure.
Significant progress in quantum information technologies and the international growth of this sector raise questions about the security of our communications systems and the evolution towards the quantum Internet.
Consultants at McKinsey have estimated that the quantum communication market will be worth between US$11 billion and US$15 billion by 2035, and between US$24 billion and US$36 billion by 2040. In the short term, quantum communications will continue to develop and attract commercial interest.
However, the threats are also becoming clearer, as quantum computers are likely to be able to break current RSA-2048-type communications security protocols sometime between 2027 and 2036.
It is especially important for organizations to consider and plan a migration of their data security procedures given that they will need time to incorporate these procedures into their operations.
This solution is designed to help organizations prepare for these upheavals when they come to test their projects.
Deployed in Sherbrooke, Montreal and Quebec City, Kirq provides an experimentation and prototyping platform for companies and researchers to facilitate the development and validation of new communications technologies in the quantum information age.
Our testbed provides real-life conditions for exploring practical use cases, such as cybersecurity, quantum-safe networks and other mission-critical applications.
The testbed also provides many hardware and software components to its ecosystem, and new ones are constantly being added over time:
- Fibre-optic infrastructure
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems
- High-performance conventional transmission equipment (DWDM)
- Integrated key management software
- Secure Key Storage (HSM)
- Complete IT infrastructure (servers, firewalls…)
The Kirq philosophy has four components:
- Open: Whether you are from a large company, SME, startup, research institute or government agency, whether you are a quantum expert or a novice, or whether you are a local or international organization, the testbed can be your playground for experimenting with and validating quantum technologies applicable to telecommunications networks.
- Scalable: While quantum and classical systems have initially been deployed on dedicated terrestrial fibre-optic networks, other possible media include free path links (satellite, point-to-point optical), integrations with 5G and 6G cellular networks, drones and possibly entanglement distribution (memory, quantum repeater).
- Adaptable: Kirq is intended to provide versatile and multi-pole infrastructure with multi-node topology that can integrate “private” sites; various platforms (QKD, PQC, etc.) to tailor the testbed to the specific needs of users and projects.
- Collaborative: Kirq encourages specialists, researchers, developers and testbed participants to collaborate and network for their projects.
20
ongoing projects
$2.5M
Hardware provided by collaborators and partners
Membres de l'Équipe
The team
Philippe Barraud
Project Manager
Jacques McNeil
Project Advisor
François Borrelli
Special Advisor on Emerging Technologies and Kirq Project Ambassador
Emmanuel Calvet
System Architect
Pierre-Alexis Nault
Network Engineer – KirQ
