Ciena’s Waveserver Demonstrates 1.6 Tb/s AES-256-GCM Quantum-Secured Link at OFC 2026
Ciena’s Waveserver platform achieved optical-layer AES-256-GCM encryption at 1.6 Tb/s integrated with QCi’s time-frequency entanglement QKD and quantum authentication at OFC 2026 demonstration. The solution supports NIST-certified post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and seamless third-party QKD interworking via an ETSI-standard API for future quantum threats.
1. Ciena-QCi Joint Quantum-Secured Demo
At OFC 2026, Ciena and Quantum Computing Inc. showcased a live demonstration of next-generation quantum-secured communications integrating Ciena’s Waveserver optical encryption with QCi’s time-frequency entanglement QKD and quantum identity authentication. The demo highlighted a layered security architecture combining AES-256-GCM optical-layer encryption at 1.6 Tb/s, NIST-certified post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and an ETSI-standard API for seamless third-party QKD interworking.
2. Waveserver Platform Capabilities
Ciena’s Waveserver platform delivered high-performance AES-256-GCM encryption scaling up to 1.6 Tb/s over optical networks, while supporting NIST-certified post-quantum cryptography and interoperable QKD systems. The platform’s optical-layer encryption protects in-flight data without impacting throughput or latency, addressing both current cybersecurity threats and future quantum computing risks.
3. Market Implications and Next Steps
The integrated solution positions Ciena to capture demand from businesses and network operators requiring quantum-safe communications for critical data transport at scale. Ciena plans to enable easy deployment of commercially available quantum-secure encryption in real-world networks, potentially accelerating adoption of quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography across enterprise and service provider environments.