KEEQuant Unveils Commercial-Grade Chip-Scale QKD

Business

KEEQuant Unveils Commercial-Grade Chip-Scale QKD

2026-03-16 14:00 Last Updated At：14:52

FÜRTH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 16, 2026--

KEEQuant today announced the launch of its commercial-grade chip-scale QKD technology, marking a major advance in quantum-secure communications. This breakthrough redefines the economics and practicality of quantum key distribution by replacing bulky, complex optical assemblies with photonic integration and turning quantum-safe key exchange into a realistic network upgrade for telecom operators, data center providers and critical infrastructure organizations. The result is smaller, more scalable and more cost-efficient systems that preserve compatibility with existing fiber environments and established encryption solutions, making broader adoption far more practical for organizations preparing their infrastructure for the long-term cryptographic risks posed by quantum computing.

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“For years, QKD has been seen as strategically important, but too complex and too costly for broad deployment,” said Imran Khan, Managing Director at KEEQuant. “Bringing QKD to the chip scale changes that. It gives quantum-safe key exchange the economics and practicality it needs to move into real-world networks.”

Based on this technology, KEEQuant will begin shipments to first customers later this year.

Why chip-scale QKD is a market inflection point:

Technically, the milestone is the integration and system-level validation of the major optical building blocks required for QKD on photonic chips. Using commercial PICs, KEEQuant brought transmitter and receiver lasers, modulation, receiver optics and detection to the chip scale, replacing bulky optical assemblies with a compact photonic architecture. Beyond miniaturization alone, this establishes the engineering basis for repeatable packaging, manufacturable system design and reliable system-level integration of chip-scale QKD building blocks.

With this launch, KEEQuant moves quantum-safe communications from research and pilot deployments into commercially viable infrastructure.

About KEEQuant

KEEQuant GmbH is a start-up company specializing in quantum-secure communications. Its core business is the development and sale of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems, Key Management Systems (KMS), and hybrid applications of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The miniaturization of QKD technology onto photonic chips, together with certification and approval of the overall system, forms the foundation for long-term secure communications. This helps ensure that users’ security-critical data flows remain protected against unauthorized access even in future threat scenarios, such as attacks using powerful quantum computers.

Funding

This work has received funding through the SEQRET project under the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme, within the framework of EuroQCI, under call DIGITAL-2021-QCI-01-INDUSTRIAL (Project ID: 101091591). SEQRET advances secure and industrialized QKD systems for European telecommunication networks, including photonic integration, manufacturability, and certification readiness.

Italian team players celebrate WBC success with la dolce vita: espresso, wine and Armani

MIAMI (AP) — Dylan DeLucia pitched four scoreless innings against Puerto Rico to help boost Italy to its first World Baseball Classic semifinal and immediately was aware of the impact created by a team celebrating home run shots with shots — of espresso.

“I opened my phone after the game to like 60 DMs and it was in words ... I didn't know how to say,” the pitcher explained Sunday of his direct messages. "So definitely going to have to do some Google translate, for sure."

Italy plays Venezuela on Monday night for a berth in the championship against the United States or the Dominican Republic.

Just three players listed on Italy’s roster were born in Il Bel Paese: Los Angeles Angels left-hander Sam Aldegheri; Gabriele Quattrini, a 29-year-old right-hander who has pitched in the Italian Serie A; and Claudio Scotti, a 27-year-old right-hander released from a minor league contract by the New York Mets in 2023.

Italy's roster also includes Philadelphia All-Star pitcher Aaron Nola, who would start Tuesday's final, and Kansas City All-Star first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, the team captain, who gives his each home-run hitting teammate a kiss on each cheek.

Long ball hitters cut a bella figura, honored with a Giorgio Armani jacket during the dugout celebrazione,

Following each win in a 5-0 start, the team luxuriated la dolce vita, with pitchers and players each given a bottle of wine, a suggestion of team publicist Jason Zillo of the New York Yankees. Pedigree increases with each win, and selections have included Francesco Rinaldi Barolo, Barbaresco Montefico, Antinori Prunotto: Bric Turot and Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.

“Last night I forgot to take the brown paper bags off of them when I handed them out. so it looked like I was passing 40s around to guys on the team after we won,” Pasquantino said after he became the first player with a WBC three-homer game, in the group stage win over Mexico.

In a soccer-mad nation where calcio is omnipresent, the baseball Azzurri have managed to make some impact.

Sunday's front page of La Gazzetta Sportiva was dominated by Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus but included a small box at the bottom featuring baseball with the headline “CHE ITALIA” followed by a subhead that started “Altra impresa” (What an Italy ... another feat)."

“In the south of Italy they don’t play that much baseball and yesterday everyone was watching the game,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said. “They send me pictures all the time. It’s like the family reunion watching baseball."

A big league catcher from 2008-20, Cervelli was born in Venezuela to an Italian father, and he played for the Azzurri in the 2009 and 2018 WBCs. He moved to Florence, Italy, last year after he replaced Hall of Famer Mike Piazza as manager.

A Juventus fan, he of course follows Serie A.

“If you watch the newspaper, it’s going to be five, six pages about soccer,” he said. “And now we’re in. Yesterday I think was the first time for the national team on TV.”

Pasquantani was born in Richmond, Virginia, and says he became eligible for the Azzurri because his paternal great grandfather was from Italy.

Home runs are celebrated this year with sips from a Lavazza Classy Mini, and Pasquantino is the current barrista. He took over from Piazza, who had a Nespresso machine in the dugout at the 2023 WBC.

“I think it kind of comedically worked out that they were too hot the first day. So people were spitting them out,” Pasquantino said. “But it is just coffee. I’m not spiking it with anything other than coffee.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb