In July 2018, ITU-T Study Group 13 (Future networks and cloud) initiated its first work item on quantum key distribution (QKD), introducing the concept of a quantum key distribution network (QKDN) into the ITU-T standardization framework. The work item, designated Y.3800, set out to describe the networking concepts underpinning QKD and to provide support for the design, deployment, operation, and maintenance of QKDN implementations.
According to ITU-T documentation, this made ITU-T the first standards development organization to standardize QKD as a network. The work was led by Study Group 13 under Question 16 (Q16/13), with contributions from organizations including Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), NEC Corporation, and Toshiba.
SG13’s initiation of this work item established the foundation for what would become more than 40 QKDN-related work items across four ITU-T groups during subsequent study periods. Study Group 17 (Security) began parallel work on QKD security aspects during its September 2018 meeting, launching a technical report on the security framework for QKD in telecom networks and a standard on quantum noise random number generator architecture.