Network testing and assurance vendor Viavi Solutions partnered with quantum cybersecurity company QNu Labs to develop testing frameworks and reference architectures for deploying quantum-safe security across telecom and enterprise networks.

The partnership will initially concentrate on practical test cases and deployment frameworks that organizations can use to evaluate quantum-safe security in live networks. The companies said this work would lay the groundwork for a broader industry consortium around quantum-safe communications.

Viavi brings experience in network testing, monitoring, and assurance across telecom, cloud, and mission-critical environments, while QNu Labs develops hardware and software platforms for hybrid quantum cybersecurity. Together, the companies aim to address not only cryptographic algorithms but also the operational challenges of integrating quantum-safe security into live networks.

Under the partnership, Viavi and QNu Labs plan to develop defined test cases and certification or badging mechanisms covering a range of quantum-safe approaches, including post-quantum cryptography (PQC), quantum key distribution, quantum random number generation, and hybrid PQC–quantum systems. The goal is to provide enterprises, service providers, and government organizations with clearer guidance on evaluating and comparing emerging quantum-safe technologies.

The collaboration will also address how quantum-safe security can be integrated across different parts of the network stack, including core infrastructure, radio access networks (RAN), transport, edge, and cloud environments. The goal is to give organizations a way to test whether quantum-safe technologies can run reliably alongside existing classical infrastructure, using functional and performance testing.

Evolving quantum security needs

As enterprises and network operators prepare for a post-quantum future, one of the key challenges is moving quantum-safe technologies out of research environments and into production infrastructure. This is particularly complex at the optical layer, where quantum technologies intersect directly with physical network assets such as fiber, transport equipment, and access networks.

Viavi CTO Sameh Yamany said quantum-safe communications are shifting from long-term research to near-term operational concern.

“Trusted partners that combine deep network expertise with quantum research are essential for transitioning quantum-safe communication from the lab to practical deployment,” Yamany said.

The companies said the collaboration will follow emerging standards efforts from groups such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), with a view to encouraging more consistent approaches to quantum-safe readiness. That includes work on crypto-agility, resilience testing, and the deployment of quantum-safe systems at scale.

QNu Labs CEO Sunil Gupta said the partnership aims to support gradual migration rather than abrupt change.

“Our collaboration with Viavi brings together network intelligence and quantum cybersecurity expertise to help organizations move from classical to quantum-safe security architectures in a practical, scalable way,” Gupta said.

The partnership comes as post-quantum readiness moves from long-term planning toward near-term execution. With NIST moving toward finalizing its first PQC standards and governments begin pushing for early migration planning, organizations are paying closer attention to how quantum-safe technologies can be tested and integrated into existing networks without significant disruption.