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IEEE Transactions on Communications

Quantum Passive Optical Networks: General Principles

Amir Mohammad Yaghoobianzadeh, Jawad A. Salehi

Published Aug 1, 2025• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the general principles of time-division multiple-access passive optical networks (PON) through the lens of quantum light signals. We investigate the optimal quantum receiver for various quantum light signals and delve into the fundamental constraints imposed by their quantum nature. This paper evaluates the optimal error probability for the Fock, coherent and phase-randomized coherent states. Furthermore, we investigated the power splitter/combiner channel, which is the main element in a PON, from the quantum viewpoint using the scattering matrix formalism. We demonstrated that under the low-loss condition, the error probability of the Fock quantum passive optical network (QPON) can surpass the coherent QPON.

DOI
10.1109/tcomm.2025.3594787

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In this paper, we explore the general principles of time-division multiple-access passive optical networks (PON) through the lens of quantum light signals. We investigate the optimal quantum receiver for various quantum light signals and delve into the fundamental constraints imposed by their quantum nature. This paper evaluates the optimal error probability for the Fock, coherent and phase-randomized coherent states. Furthermore, we investigated the power splitter/combiner channel, which is the main element in a PON, from the quantum viewpoint using the scattering matrix formalism. We demonstrated that under the low-loss condition, the error probability of the Fock quantum passive optical network (QPON) can surpass the coherent QPON.
In this paper, we explore the time-division multipleaccess passive optical networks (PON) through the lens of quantum light signals. We investigate the optimal quantum receiver for various quantum light signals and delve into the fundamental constraints imposed by their quantum nature. This paper evaluates the optimal error probability for the Fock (number) and coherent (Glauber) states. We demonstrated that under the low-loss condition, the error probability of the Fock quantum passive optical network (QPON) can surpass the coherent QPON. Furthermore, we investigated the power splitter/combiner channel, which is the main element in a PON, from the quantum viewpoint using the scattering matrix formalism.
The integration of quantum key distribution (QKD) into passive optical networks (PONs) poses new challenges due to the specific characteristics of the access network, as the high losses from passive splitters and the spontaneous Raman scattering noise generated by classical channels co-propagating in the same optical fiber. In this paper, different QKD technologies and implementations are compared, taking into account both discrete-variable and continuous-variable QKD systems to maximize the achievable secret key rate performance in single-fiber bidirectional PONs.
Abstract Passive Optical Networks (PON) are widely used to deliver fixed line communication due to their cost effectiveness and potential for high data transfer rates. However, due to the nature of their operation, every user on a PON system has access to every other user’s downstream data. Current progress in quantum computing means that the classical encryption algorithms currently used to secure communication data, including PON data, may not be sufficient in the future and so, for total information security another encryption solution, such as Quantum Key Distribution, must be found. This paper outlines the different variations of QKD on PON that have so far been proposed and summarises the current state of the art of experimental demonstrations of QKD on PON.
Building scalable and secure quantum networks with many users has a high application potential but also holds many practical challenges. A significant stride in this pursuit involves extending quantum key distribution, an information-theoretically secure method for establishing cryptographic keys between two distant users, from a point-to-point protocol implemented on direct optical connections to a quantum access network. Yet, realizations of quantum access networks have, so far, relied on probabilistic or time-sharing strategies. Here, we show theoretically and experimentally that a solution without these constraints can come from the exclusive features of continuous-variable systems. Based on coherent states, we propose continuous-variable quantum passive-optical-network (CV-QPON) protocols, enabling deterministic and simultaneous secret key generation among all network users. We achieve this by leveraging the inherent wave-like property of coherent states split at a beam splitter and electric-field quadrature measurements. We show two protocols with different trust levels assigned to the network users and experimentally demonstrate key generation in a quantum access network with 8 users, each with an 11 km span of access link. Depending on the trust assumptions about users, we reach 1.5 Mbits/s and 2.1 Mbits/s of total network key generation. Demonstrating the potential to expand the network's capacity to accommodate tens of users at a high rate, our CV-QPON protocols offer a pathway toward establishing low-cost, high-rate, and scalable quantum access networks using standard telecom technologies and directly exploiting the existing access network infrastructure.
It is well known that optical access networks are able to provide high data rates over long distances and to a reasonable number of users. Security and privacy are always a challenge for public accessible network infrastructures. Especially in time-division multiplexing passive optical networks (TDM-PONs), in which the downstream signal is broadcasted to all users connected via the same wavelength channel in a shared fiber link, privacy can be a critical concern. Although encryption at the application layer can provide a high level of security, this can be achieved only if the encryption key distribution is perfectly save. On the other hand, encryption on the physical layer such as quantum cryptography or, more precisely, quantum key distribution (QKD) is a very promising approach to achieve secure communication. However, there remain several issues that have to be solved before the quantum cryptography reaches the maturity level needed for a cost effective implementation in practical networks. In this paper, we address quantum key distribution (QKD) over passive optical access networks, which is an enabling technology required to cost efficiently deploy practical quantum encrypted data communication in the access area. We study different methods to integrate QKD systems in conventional optical access networks and quantitatively evaluate their suitability for a potential implementation.