More than $10 million in joint funding from the governments of Quebec and Canada is supporting the expansion of Kirq, a quantum-safe communication testbed, as Luxquanta joins the initiative with its commercially named Nova lq continuous-variable Quantum Key Distribution system. The partnership provides Canadian operators with a live network to evaluate quantum-safe communications, deploying Nova lq on fiber infrastructure provided by Bell, Telus, and Ciena.
“Our contribution to the Kirq testbed will allow any interested user to test our flagship QKD system in a live network, with real operators and real conditions,” says Victor Gomis, Director of Business Development at Luxquanta, marking the company’s entry into the Canadian market.
Luxquanta’s Nova lq Integrates with Numana’s Kirq Testbed
The integration provides operators with a complementary continuous-variable technology alongside existing QKD and quantum-safe options, all deployed on Kirq’s open infrastructure. Nova lq uses the quantum properties of light to generate a symmetric encryption key between endpoints, safeguarding data transmission against potential attacks from future quantum computers.
The system’s design prioritizes compatibility with existing infrastructure; Nova lq uses coherent-detection components already present in modern optical networks, eliminating the need for dedicated fiber installations. Luxquanta views this partnership as a strategic entry point into the Canadian market and a means of collaborating with a key regional accelerator. Numana, a not-for-profit technology macro-accelerator, established Kirq as a high-impact project intended to bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical, real-world adoption of quantum-safe technologies.
The collaboration between Luxquanta and Numana aims to accelerate the widespread adoption of quantum-safe communication technologies, preparing the region for the challenges posed by the emerging quantum era. Nova lq’s inclusion in Kirq offers Canadian organizations an additional option for testing quantum-safe communication before making long-term commitments, encouraging a more secure and resilient digital infrastructure. Luxquanta’s commitment to European manufacturing and strategic R&D partnerships reinforces its position as a leader in quantum cybersecurity, with Nova lq already deployed in critical infrastructure across Europe, demonstrating its reliability in operational environments.
Our contribution to the Kirq testbed will allow any interested user to test our flagship QKD system in a live network, with real operators and real conditions, to prove that quantum-safe communication can run on the fibre that’s already in the ground.
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