Long term performance of the SwissQuantum quantum key distribution network in a field environment

Understand

In this paper, we report on the performance of the SwissQuantum quantum key distribution (QKD) network.

• The network was installed in the Geneva metropolitan area and run for more than one and a half years, from the end of March 2009 to the beginning of January 2011.
• The main goal of this experiment was to test the reliability of the quantum layer over a long period of time in a production environment.
• A key management layer has been developed to manage the key between the three nodes of the network.