In March 2026, Poland demonstrated its first quantum-encrypted connection using domestically developed quantum key distribution (QKD) technology. According to the Quantum Computing Report, the connection was established between the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the Military University of Technology (WAT), with a trusted node at NASK, Poland’s national research and academic computer network.
Communication was secured using the IPsec protocol with AES-256 encryption, ensuring resistance to interception. The QKD system was developed under the OptoKrypt project, initiated by Poland’s Cyberspace Defense Forces and implemented in collaboration with WAT, TELDAT, and NASK.
Poland’s PIONIER-Q quantum communication network, which provides the underlying infrastructure, spans 1,770 kilometers of optical fiber connecting Warsaw, Poznań, Gdańsk, Kraków, Wrocław, and other cities. The demonstration was conducted as part of Poland’s participation in the EuroQCI initiative. The PIONIER-Q consortium, along with entities including Creotech Instruments and Exatel, is involved in developing European cybersecurity standards related to quantum communication.