VIAVI-QNu Labs Quantum Security Partnership

by | Dec 4, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Executive Case Study & Regional Impact Analysis

Executive Summary

The December 2025 strategic partnership between VIAVI Solutions and QNu Labs represents a pivotal development in global quantum-safe network infrastructure. This collaboration addresses the urgent need to protect critical infrastructure against quantum computing threats through the development of comprehensive testing frameworks, certification standards, and reference architectures. The partnership has particular significance for Singapore’s quantum readiness initiatives and positions the region as a global testbed for quantum-safe innovation.

Partnership Overview

Strategic Objectives

Primary Mission: Transform quantum security technologies from experimental laboratory setups into reliable, field-deployable solutions for enterprise and critical infrastructure protection.

Core Deliverables:

  • Test cases and badging mechanisms for quantum-safe technologies
  • Reference architectures for quantum-safe deployment
  • Standards frameworks aligned with NIST PQC and ETSI guidelines
  • Foundation for global industry consortium development

Technology Focus Areas

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Hardware-based quantum security using photon transmission and detection for unhackable key generation. When intercepted, the quantum state collapses, alerting network operators to potential breaches.

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Software-based cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum computer attacks, mandated by NIST for protecting digital infrastructure.

Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG): True randomness generation using quantum mechanical processes, essential for creating unbreakable encryption keys.

Hybrid Systems (PQC/QKD): Integrated solutions combining quantum physics-based security with algorithmic resilience, providing defense-in-depth protection.

Partner Capabilities Analysis

VIAVI Solutions

Core Competencies:

  • Decades of leadership in fiber optics and network testing
  • Extensive experience in optical layer infrastructure
  • Proven track record in large-scale network assurance worldwide
  • TeraVM platform: First cloud-enabled test platform supporting NIST-mandated PQC algorithms

Strategic Value: VIAVI brings critical expertise in transitioning photon-based communication from theoretical models to practical deployment, with deep understanding of network performance, security testing, and quality assurance at scale.

Key Products:

  • TeraVM Security Test: Performance benchmarking for quantum-safe systems
  • Network monitoring and assurance platforms
  • Field testing equipment for quantum network infrastructure

QNu Labs

Core Competencies:

  • World’s only full-stack hybrid quantum cybersecurity company
  • Founded 2016 at IIT Madras Research Park
  • Backed by India’s National Quantum Mission with approximately $7M Series A funding
  • Global operations across USA, Australia, India, and Middle East

Strategic Value: QNu Labs provides comprehensive quantum-safe security solutions through its QShield™ platform, offering SaaS-based, end-to-end protection with globally certified QKD, QRNG, PQC, and hybrid systems.

Target Sectors: Defense, telecommunications, finance, government, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.

Solutions Framework

Testing and Certification

Badging Programs: Development of certification mechanisms to validate quantum-safe technology performance, ensuring organizations can trust their security implementations meet rigorous standards.

Performance Metrics:

  • Secure Key Rate (SKR) measurement
  • Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) monitoring
  • Network integration efficiency
  • Real-world operational resilience testing

Reference Architectures

Multi-Layer Integration: Detailed specifications for deploying quantum-safe communications across:

  • Core network infrastructure
  • Radio Access Networks (RAN)
  • Transport layer systems
  • Edge computing environments
  • Cloud network layers

Crypto-Agility Framework: Guidelines for organizations to seamlessly transition between classical and quantum-safe infrastructures, ensuring backward compatibility while building forward security.

Standards Development

International Alignment:

  • NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography recommendations
  • European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) frameworks
  • International Telecommunication Union (ITU) protocols
  • Harmonized global approaches to quantum-safe readiness

Market Outlook & Industry Impact

Threat Landscape

“Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” (HNDL): Adversaries are currently intercepting and storing encrypted data with the intention of decrypting it once sufficiently powerful quantum computers become available. This creates immediate urgency even though large-scale quantum computers are years away.

Q-Day Timeline: While exact predictions remain uncertain, experts estimate that quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption could emerge within 5-15 years. The migration to quantum-safe solutions is a complex multi-year endeavor requiring immediate action.

Vulnerable Assets:

  • Financial transactions and banking records
  • Healthcare data requiring decades-long confidentiality
  • Government communications and classified information
  • Critical infrastructure control systems
  • Corporate intellectual property

Target Industries

Primary Markets:

  • Telecommunications: Network operators transitioning infrastructure
  • Banking & Finance: Protecting transaction systems and customer data
  • Aerospace & Defense: Securing classified communications
  • Government: Critical infrastructure and citizen data protection
  • Enterprise: Safeguarding intellectual property and operations

Market Size: The quantum cybersecurity market is experiencing exponential growth, with close to $3 billion invested in over 330 startups globally. This represents commercial investment expecting returns, not merely research grants.

Competitive Advantages

First-Mover Benefits: Organizations establishing quantum-safe infrastructure today gain:

  • Protection against current harvest-now threats
  • Competitive advantage in security-conscious markets
  • Regulatory compliance readiness
  • Customer trust through demonstrable security leadership

Partnership Differentiators:

  • Comprehensive testing frameworks unavailable elsewhere
  • Vendor-neutral certification programs
  • Global standards development leadership
  • End-to-end solution validation capabilities

Singapore Impact Analysis

National Quantum Strategy

Singapore has positioned itself as a global leader in quantum-safe technology development through coordinated government, academic, and industry initiatives.

Key Programs:

National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN): Launched in 2022, building on over 10 years of quantum research from the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) at the National University of Singapore. The NQSN conducts nationwide trials of quantum-safe communications technologies to enhance network security.

National Quantum-Safe Network Plus (NQSN+): Announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat at ATxSG 2023, the NQSN+ represents Singapore’s strategic evolution from research to commercial deployment. Part of Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint outlining digital connectivity through 2030, with the goal of achieving quantum-safe status by then.

Implementation Partners:

  • Singtel: Southeast Asia’s first Hybrid Quantum-Safe Network
  • SPTel: Nationwide quantum-safe network deployment
  • SpeQtral: Satellite-based quantum communication
  • ID Quantique: QKD technology and key management platforms
  • Palo Alto Networks: PQC software solutions

Regulatory Framework

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) Initiatives:

Quantum-Safe Handbook: Developed by CSA, GovTech, and IMDA in collaboration with leading technology companies and cybersecurity consultancies. Provides practical guidance for organizations, particularly Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) owners and government agencies, in preparing for quantum-safe transition.

Quantum Readiness Index (QRI): Self-assessment questionnaire helping system owners and security practitioners gauge organizational readiness, prioritize key actions, and facilitate informed discussions with senior management.

Public Consultation Period: Both documents are under public consultation through December 31, 2025, demonstrating Singapore’s commitment to stakeholder engagement and comprehensive policy development.

Infrastructure Deployment

Singtel Hybrid Quantum-Safe Network:

Architecture: Integrates QKD for core data centers and mission-critical sites with PQC-based key distribution for branch offices, remote facilities, cloud environments, and overseas operations. This hybrid approach ensures quantum-safe protection across entire organizational footprints.

Key Capabilities:

  • Highly-available ring architecture throughout Singapore
  • Multi-layer encryption with secure key management
  • Consumption of keys across OSI Layers 1, 2, 3, and MPLS
  • Quantum-Safe-as-a-Service offerings creating new revenue streams
  • Removes cost and complexity barriers for customer adoption

Operational Success: The system generates 6.75 million AES-256 keys per day per bank, with buffer capacity sufficient for 2.5 months of encrypted operations during network outages. Banks have successfully simulated eavesdropping attacks and fiber disconnections while measuring Secure Key Rate and Quantum Bit Error Rate throughout.

Financial Sector Testing:

Between September 2024 and March 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) conducted a proof-of-concept sandbox deploying QKD stacks to encrypt settlement files between banks and MAS. This moved beyond demonstrations to measure real operational metrics under production-like conditions.

Key Findings:

  • QKD can integrate with existing infrastructure without complete network overhauls
  • Keys generated through quantum physics provide security beyond algorithmic resistance
  • Operational feasibility confirmed for financial services applications
  • Successful attack simulation and resilience testing

Strategic Geographic Advantages

Singapore as Regional Testbed:

Singapore’s 730 square kilometers make it an ideal testing ground for quantum security infrastructure. What works across Singapore can scale regionally, with ASEAN markets closely watching developments.

Blueprint for Regional Adoption: When Singapore demonstrates that quantum security is practical, affordable, and accessible as a service, neighboring countries gain a proven blueprint to follow.

International Collaboration:

ITU Protocol Development: IMDA, together with the CQT-NQSN team, are co-leading efforts with Japan to establish a QKD protocol framework at the International Telecommunication Union. This positions Singapore as a global standards leader.

Cross-Border Integration: NQSN+ is working towards integration with quantum-ready networks from like-minded countries, allowing enterprises to deploy quantum-safe solutions across global markets.

QKD Reference Specification: Singapore has worked with industry to release a QKD reference specification guiding telecommunications companies and users deploying QKD-based networks in Singapore and beyond.

Economic Impact

Innovation Ecosystem:

Research Funding → Commercialization: Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint outlines the innovation cycle: research funding leads to startup creation, startups build technology, enterprises test it in sandboxes, regulators create frameworks, and infrastructure providers make it accessible as a service. Each step validates the next.

Attracting Investment: Singapore’s quantum leadership positions it to attract global investments in quantum technologies, with the city-state fostering innovation across the quantum computing, sensing, and communications spectrum.

Revenue Opportunities: Telecommunications operators like Singtel are creating new Quantum-Safe-as-a-Service offerings, generating revenue streams while enhancing customer security and trust.

Direct Partnership Impact on Singapore

VIAVI-QNu Labs Relevance:

Testing Infrastructure: The partnership’s focus on developing comprehensive test cases and badging mechanisms directly supports Singapore’s NQSN+ deployment by providing validation frameworks for quantum-safe technologies being deployed nationwide.

Standards Alignment: The collaboration’s commitment to harmonizing with NIST, ETSI, and other international frameworks ensures Singapore’s quantum infrastructure remains globally interoperable and recognized.

Certification Programs: Badging mechanisms developed by VIAVI and QNu Labs will enable Singapore organizations to demonstrate compliance and security posture, building trust with customers and partners globally.

Technology Validation: VIAVI’s expertise in testing quantum-safe systems at the optical layer addresses critical needs in Singapore’s fiber-based quantum network infrastructure, ensuring performance, reliability, and security.

Knowledge Transfer: As both companies work with enterprises, telecom operators, and government agencies worldwide—sectors that are core to Singapore’s quantum initiatives—the partnership creates opportunities for technology transfer, training, and ecosystem development.

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation (2025-2026)

Consortium Development: Establish global industry consortium with founding members from telecommunications, finance, government, and technology sectors.

Standards Framework: Finalize test case specifications, certification criteria, and reference architectures for initial quantum-safe technology categories (standalone PQC, QKD, QRNG).

Pilot Deployments: Conduct field trials with early adopter organizations to validate testing frameworks and gather real-world performance data.

Phase 2: Scaling (2026-2027)

Hybrid System Certification: Develop and launch badging programs for hybrid PQC/QKD systems, addressing the most complex deployment scenarios.

Regional Expansion: Extend consortium membership and certification programs across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

Integration Testing: Validate quantum-safe communications across multiple network layers (core, RAN, transport, edge, cloud) and demonstrate seamless classical-to-quantum migration.

Phase 3: Global Adoption (2027-2030)

Industry-Wide Implementation: Support mass adoption of quantum-safe technologies across all target sectors through standardized testing, certification, and deployment frameworks.

Continuous Evolution: Adapt standards and testing methodologies as quantum computing capabilities advance and new security threats emerge.

Ecosystem Maturity: Achieve widespread availability of certified quantum-safe solutions with trained implementation professionals across global markets.

Strategic Recommendations

For Singapore Organizations

Immediate Actions:

  1. Complete CSA’s Quantum Readiness Index self-assessment
  2. Review Quantum-Safe Handbook guidance and develop transition roadmap
  3. Engage with NQSN+ operators (Singtel, SPTel, SpeQtral) to explore quantum-safe service options
  4. Identify cryptographic assets requiring protection and prioritize based on data sensitivity and longevity

Medium-Term Planning:

  1. Participate in quantum-safe pilot programs and testbeds
  2. Train cybersecurity teams on quantum threats and mitigation strategies
  3. Update procurement requirements to include quantum-safe considerations
  4. Establish crypto-agility frameworks enabling smooth technology transitions

For Regional Organizations

Market Entry Strategy:

  1. Monitor Singapore’s quantum-safe deployment outcomes as reference implementation
  2. Engage with VIAVI-QNu Labs consortium for certification and standards guidance
  3. Assess national regulatory environments for quantum-safe requirements
  4. Develop partnerships with Singapore-based quantum security providers for regional expansion

Risk Mitigation:

  1. Begin inventory of cryptographic dependencies and vulnerabilities
  2. Implement hybrid security approaches combining classical and quantum-safe methods
  3. Plan multi-year migration timelines recognizing complexity of enterprise-wide transitions
  4. Budget for quantum-safe infrastructure upgrades and staff training

For Global Enterprises

Strategic Positioning:

  1. Align security roadmaps with NIST PQC recommendations and ETSI standards
  2. Engage with VIAVI-QNu Labs partnership for testing and certification services
  3. Evaluate quantum-safe technology vendors against emerging badging standards
  4. Consider Singapore operations as pilot site for quantum-safe implementations given mature ecosystem

Competitive Advantage:

  1. Communicate quantum-safe security posture to customers and partners
  2. Position quantum readiness as trust differentiator in security-sensitive markets
  3. Participate in industry consortiums to influence standards development
  4. Invest in quantum security expertise as strategic capability

Conclusion

The VIAVI-QNu Labs partnership addresses a critical gap in the quantum security landscape: the need for rigorous testing frameworks, certification standards, and reference architectures that enable organizations to confidently deploy quantum-safe technologies. By combining VIAVI’s decades of network testing expertise with QNu Labs’ comprehensive quantum security solutions, the partnership creates a trusted pathway for enterprises worldwide to protect critical infrastructure against quantum threats.

For Singapore, this partnership arrives at an opportune moment. As the nation accelerates quantum-safe network deployment through NQSN+, implements regulatory frameworks through CSA, and positions itself as a regional testbed for quantum innovation, the VIAVI-QNu Labs collaboration provides essential validation infrastructure. The partnership’s focus on international standards alignment ensures Singapore’s quantum infrastructure remains globally interoperable, while badging mechanisms build trust among enterprises adopting quantum-safe services.

The urgency is clear: while large-scale quantum computers remain years away, the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat is active today. Organizations encrypting sensitive data now—whether financial records, healthcare information, or classified communications—face the risk of future decryption when quantum capabilities mature. The time to act is now, and the VIAVI-QNu Labs partnership, supported by Singapore’s comprehensive quantum readiness initiatives, provides the frameworks, standards, and confidence needed to navigate this critical transition.

The quantum-safe future is not a distant possibility—it is being built today, one tested standard and certified deployment at a time.