New York-London trial shows ultra‑high‑speed data can remain protected from future quantum threats – when criminals gain access to the tech – across 6,900km of digital infrastructure
Colt Technology Services and Ciena completed what they say is one of the fastest quantum‑safe data transmissions ever demonstrated and the fastest across a transatlantic route.
The trial protected live data running across 6,900km of Colt’s subsea and terrestrial network between New York and London with Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) encryption solution. The solution uses post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms that are compliant with the US’ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and approved for commercial use.
The trial proved that data can be securely transmitted at an 800Gb Ethernet (GbE) service rate which is fast enough to move data centre‑scale volumes across the Atlantic in seconds, that are protected against “growing quantum threats”.
Colt says businesses are moving to protect their data from “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, in which bad actors intercept and store data in transit until they can access quantum computing capabilities at some time in the future. Some pundits this could be by 2030.
The trial is the latest in a series of quantum-safe encryption trials led by Colt across transatlantic subsea networks but stands out due to its:
- Speed at 800GbE which is still at the early adoption stage – most long‑haul and subsea systems today run at 100GbE or 400GbE
- Security as Ciena’s WL6e 1.6T quantum-safe encryption solution on the Waveserver platform offers PQC algorithms enabling high‑capacity secure connectivity that can function at extreme bandwidths over any distance. The solution uses a new type of encryption, Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism (ML-KEM) is one of the first PQC methods to be officially standardised and approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as FIPS 203.
- Performance during the trial demonstrated outstanding optical performance, stability over subsea infrastructure and readiness to secure AI traffic demands
Buddy Bayer, Chief Operating Officer, Colt Technology Services said, “Quantum computing is redefining the security challenge for global connectivity. This trial marks a significant step forward in protecting the world’s data as it moves across continents. It proves that quantum‑safe protection can be delivered at real‑world scale. Colt’s infrastructure combines global reach, sustained investment and robust security, giving businesses, hyperscalers and neoscalers the confidence to grow.
“At the same time, Ciena’s quantum‑safe solutions show how next‑generation security can be embedded into high‑speed networks, ensuring protection keeps pace with performance. Together, we’re helping customers protect critical data today while preparing for the quantum era, building future‑ready networks that simply work, and are secure, scalable and ready to power the AI economy.”
