Viavi Solutions and QNu Labs have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and deployment of quantum-safe network security technologies, as the race to protect critical infrastructure from emerging quantum threats intensifies.
Announced in Chandler, Arizona, the alliance will focus on creating test cases, frameworks, and standards needed to ensure that quantum-era architectures operate with resilience, efficiency, and real-world reliability. The companies described the collaboration as an early step towards a broader industry consortium aimed at encouraging open research and harmonised approaches to quantum-safe communication.
Quantum-safe security, once viewed as a long-term concern, has become more urgent as advances in quantum computing threaten traditional cryptographic systems. Much of the challenge lies at the optical layer, where quantum technologies meet physical infrastructure, and where experimental quantum optics must be converted into field-ready, scalable products.
The partnership will jointly develop test regimes and certification mechanisms for a spectrum of quantum-safe technologies, including standalone post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, quantum random number generators, and hybrid systems that combine these approaches. The companies aim to offer a framework for sectors ranging from telecommunications and finance to aerospace, defence, government, and academia.
Beyond testing, Viavi and QNu intend to produce detailed specifications and reference architectures to guide the deployment of quantum-safe systems across core, RAN, transport, edge, and cloud layers. These will include functional and performance testing standards, as well as integration models to help organisations ensure compatibility between classical and quantum-hybrid infrastructure.
The alliance will also advocate for global alignment with standards bodies such as NIST and ETSI, supporting joint research on crypto-agility, post-quantum resilience, QKD scalability, and quantum-secure orchestration.
“Quantum-safe communications is no longer a distant goal but an urgent need,” said Sameh Yamany, Chief Technology Officer at Viavi. “We offer a rare perspective on transitioning quantum-safe communication from the lab to practical deployment, and we look forward to validating quantum-safe environments through our partnership with QNu Labs.”
Sunil Gupta, Chief Executive of QNu Labs, described the collaboration as a milestone in secure digital communications. “Together, we will provide tools and roadmaps to assist enterprises and service providers in migrating from classical to quantum-safe systems,” he said.
Viavi provides network testing, monitoring, and assurance technologies across telecommunications, cloud, public safety, aerospace, and railway sectors, and is also a major supplier of light-management technology for 3D sensing and anti-counterfeiting applications.
QNu Labs, founded in 2016 at the IIT Madras Research Park and backed by India’s National Quantum Mission, develops full-stack hybrid quantum-security systems. Operating across the USA, Australia, India, and the Middle East, it supplies quantum-safe defences for sectors including telecoms, finance, government, and the military. Its US-focused spin-off, enQase, acts as a separate entity for the American market.
