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Completion of the research project “Q-net-Q” - Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and partners demonstrate cross-vendor quantum key distribution (QKD) for critical infrastructures
Berlin/Sundhausen/Nordhausen/Jena – The research consortium Q-net-Q, led by Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and with participation of Fraunhofer HHI (Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut) and Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF), demonstrated the successful implementation of a quantum infrastructure under real operational conditions after a period of more than three years. Several aspects of a QKD-secured network were highlighted in the final presentation.
At the Sundhausen health kiosk, the functionality of a 150 km long regional test track was demonstrated, which was connected via a 680 km long-distance connection from Fraunhofer HHI in Berlin via Erfurt to Frankfurt am Main. The project validates the integration of quantum key distribution (QKD) into existing ICT networks to secure highly sensitive data transmissions. Fraunhofer HHI was responsible for planning and operating the QKD long-distance connection between Berlin and Frankfurt am Main.
The project, co-financed with € 11.8 million by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the European Union (ERDF), proves the readiness of QKD systems for use outside controlled laboratory conditions. “With the completion of Q-net-Q, we are demonstrating the successful transfer of high-tech physics into the regional supply infrastructure. The Sundhausen site serves as a real-world laboratory for digital sovereignty in rural areas,” said Prof. Dr. Jörg Wagner, President of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences.
Four test beds for European security architecture
The research focused on four different test beds. In addition to the regional connection in Sundhausen, the consortium evaluated the performance of quantum key exchange on a large-scale wide area network: This extends from the DE-CIX Internet node in Frankfurt am Main via Erfurt to Fraunhofer HHI in Berlin and comprises over 680 km of quantum-secured fiber optic connection. A central QKD endpoint was set up for this purpose at DE-CIX in Frankfurt, where several of the latest HHI QKD systems were installed and integrated into the existing fiber optic infrastructure of the Internet exchange point.
The Fraunhofer Center in Erfurt, headed by Fraunhofer IOF, forms the common hub for these connections. “The Erfurt site served as a mission-critical central hub for controlling traditional communications and hardware for all four test beds,” explains Dr. Natasa Pavlovic Tucakovic from Fraunhofer IOF. “To reduce losses on the long-distance connection, highly efficient quantum detection technologies were used.” The use of software-defined network control (SDN) also enabled multi-vendor validation—the technological coupling of hardware from different manufacturers within a single system.
“We demonstrated a 680-kilometer Trusted Node network proving that our QKD technology exchanges keys reliably and continuously over long distances – even under real field conditions and with different detector technologies,” explain Dr. Andy Schreier and Dr. Julius Schulz-Zander from Fraunhofer HHI.
“This long-haul backbone of the overall Q-net-Q network shows that long-range quantum communication can already be integrated into existing networks today.”
The health kiosk: Where high technology meets social innovation
It is no coincidence that the Sundhausen health kiosk was chosen for the final presentation. Health kiosks form an important backbone of future regional care by offering medical advice and telemedicine services in areas where GP capacities are becoming scarce. The health kiosk served as an operational interface in the project to demonstrate that the highly complex quantum highway can ensure the protection of patient data in everyday life.
Live demonstration: The telemedicine practice check
The practical application was demonstrated using a realistic teleconsultation between Sundhausen and Jena. An eHealth system (MEYTEC) was used in the health kiosk to record vital parameters such as pulse and oxygen saturation. This highly sensitive data was encrypted via a quantum access point and transmitted in real time. In Jena, Dr. Albrecht Günther, senior physician at Jena University Hospital, analyzed the incoming values via a tablet application, demonstrating the seamless integration of security technology into the medical workflow.
Strong alliance between science and practice
The success of Q-net-Q is based on the close cooperation of a nationwide consortium. As consortium leader, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences was responsible for strategic management and transfer to the region. The Fraunhofer Institutes HHI (Berlin) and IOF (Jena) contributed their expertise in quantum technology, optical systems, and the establishment of a fully comprehensive communication network with a focus on smooth processes in the collaboration between multiple data centers. The Technical Universities of Berlin (TUB) and Munich (TUM) as well as the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) developed the necessary system architecture and security software. As the central medical application partner, the Jena University Hospital (UKJ) enabled the clinical validation of the technology under real-world conditions. The internet exchange operator DE-CIX supported the project as a partner to test its integration into global network structures.
“We have brought quantum technology from the laboratory to the basement of the health kiosk in rural areas,” explained project manager Prof. Dr. Thomas Hühn. “The system is so robust that it works on standard fiber optic cables regardless of the manufacturer. We have thus created a blueprint for the future European quantum infrastructure.”
About Fraunhofer HHI
Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute is a world-leading research institute shaping the digital future. It pioneers innovative technologies at the forefront of materials science, communications, and photonic integration, supporting global connectivity and smart infrastructure. Fraunhofer HHI delivers practical solutions across diverse fields, including medicine, agriculture, critical infrastructure, disaster response, energy, and mobility.
About Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences stands for practical teaching, application-oriented research, and social responsibility. As a modern university of applied sciences, it combines innovative research projects with concrete solutions for business, the environment, and social issues.
In close cooperation with regional and national partners, forward-looking projects with direct practical relevance are developed. Students and researchers work on an interdisciplinary basis on topics such as sustainability, digitalization, and healthcare—with a clear focus on transfer and social added value.
With its strong profile in research and practice, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences makes a sustainable contribution to regional development and to overcoming current social challenges.
About Fraunhofer IOF
Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF) in Jena conducts application-oriented research in the field of photonics and develops innovative optical systems for controlling light—from its generation and manipulation to its application. The institute's services cover the entire photonic process chain, from opto-mechanical and opto-electronic system design to the manufacture of customer-specific solutions and prototypes. At Fraunhofer IOF, around 500 employees generate an annual research volume of 40 million euros.
Further information about Fraunhofer IOF can be found at: https://www.iof.fraunhofer.de/en.html
Dr. Andy Schreier
Phone: 030 31002-413
Mail: andy.schreier@hhi.fraunhofer.de
https://www.hhi.fraunhofer.de/en/press/news/quantum-communication-in-real-world-...
Researcher Andy Schreier of Fraunhofer HHI with QKD system for qualification in the laboratory prior ...
Copyright: © Fraunhofer HHI
Quantenkommunikation im Realeinsatz: Forschungskonsortium validiert hybride Netzarchitekturen über 680 Kilometer
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