On November 24, 2021, the ITU-T Focus Group on Quantum Information Technology for Networks (FG-QIT4N) concluded its work and adopted all its deliverables as technical reports. The group had been established in December 2019 and operated for approximately two years, producing outputs across two main research tracks: QKD networks and quantum information networks beyond QKD.
FG-QIT4N’s deliverables included technical reports on terminology for QKD networks (D2.1), QKDN use cases classified into six categories (D2.2), QKDN protocols for the quantum layer (D2.3 Part 1) and for key management, control, and management layers (D2.3 Part 2), QKDN transport technologies (D2.4), and a standardization outlook and technology maturity assessment (D2.5). A separate set of deliverables addressed network aspects of quantum information technologies beyond QKD, including terminology (D1.1), use cases (D1.2), and a standardization outlook (D1.4).
Briefing sessions were subsequently held to transfer FG-QIT4N’s findings to ITU-T Study Groups 11, 13, and 17 for use in ongoing normative standardization activities. Study Group 11 began work on QKDN signaling requirements and protocols building directly on FG-QIT4N outputs.