Kirq
a quantum communication testbed
Kirq is a quantum communication testbed that combines quantum and classical technologies under real-life conditions. In this way, Kirq helps to reduce the costs and minimize the risks incurred by organizations and businesses in implementing these emerging technologies.
Why did Numana choose this project?
Our study “A proposed quantum technology strategy for Quebec” recommended, among other things, that Quebec invest in a quantum communications infrastructure.
Indeed, the significant progress made 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 McKinsey estimate that the quantum communications market will be worth between 11 and 15 billion US dollars by 2035, and between 24 and 36 billion US dollars by 2040. In the short term, quantum communication will continue to develop and attract commercial interest.
However, the threats are also becoming clearer: the likelihood that quantum computers will be able to break current RSA-2048-type communications security protocols between 2027 and 2036.
Organizations therefore need to consider and plan a migration of their data security procedures, all the more quickly as the use of new methods of a quantum nature will take some time to be incorporated into their operations.
Our initiative is designed to help organizations prepare for these upheavals when they come to test their projects.
Deployed in Sherbrooke, Montreal and Quebec City, Kirq offers an experimentation and prototyping platform for companies and researchers, facilitating the development and validation of new communications technologies in the quantum information age.
Our testbed enables practical use cases to be explored in real-life conditions, notably for cybersecurity, quantum-safe networks, and other mission-critical applications.
The test bed makes numerous hardware and software components available to its ecosystem, and acquires new ones as it evolves:
- Fiber optic infrastructure
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems
- High-performance conventional transmission equipment (DWDM)
- Integrated key management software
- Secure Key Storage (HSM)
- Entire IT infrastructure (servers, firewalls…)
Kirq operates with a 4-pillar philosophy:
- Open: whether you’re a large company, SME, startup, research institute or government agency, whether you’re a quantum expert or a novice, whether you’re a local or international organization, the testbed can be your playground for experimenting with and validating quantum technologies applicable to telecommunications networks
- Scalable: quantum and classical systems are initially deployed on dedicated terrestrial fiber optic networks, but other media are envisaged such as 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 be versatile, multi-pole infrastructure, multi-node topology that can integrate “private” sites; various platforms (QKD, PQC, etc.) to adjust the testbed to your needs. ) to tailor the testbed to the specific needs of users and projects
- Collaborative: Kirq encourages collaboration and networking between specialists, researchers, developers and testbed participants for the realization of 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 Ambassador for the Kirq project
Emmanuel Calvet
System architect
