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International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks

Flexible Strategies and Practical Guidelines Toward the Integration of Quantum and Classical Optical Communications

Michela Svaluto Moreolo, Joel Compte, Javier Vílchez, Laia Nadal

Published Jul 1, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher
DOI
10.1109/icton71309.2026.11705199

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The demand for the integration of quantum key distribution (QKD) and classical optical communication in the same optical fiber medium greatly increases as fiber resources and the flexibility of practical applications are taken into consideration. To satisfy the needs of the mass deployment of ultra-high power required for classical optical networks integrating QKD, we implement the discrete variable quantum key distribution (DV-QKD) under up to 25 dBm launch power from classical channels over 75 km on an ultra-low-loss (ULL) fiber by combining a finite-key security analysis method with the noise model of classical signals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest power launched by classical signals on the coexistence of DV-QKD and classical communication. The results exhibit the feasibility and tolerance of our QKD system for use in ultra-high-power classical communications.
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The distribution of entangled photon pairs over standard optical fiber is a fundamental requirement for the realization of the quantum internet. However, real-world deployment is severely bottlenecked by the interplay of amplitude damping (photon loss) and phase noise (birefringence). In this paper, we numerically investigate the degradation of dual-rail polarization entanglement in telecom C-band fiber links. We demonstrate a critical disparity between the physical survival of quantum correlations and their practical utility in standard communication protocols. By evaluating the unconditional logarithmic negativity against the post-selected teleportation fidelity, we identify a distinct ``operational collapse region'' -- a distance window where the channel retains true quantum entanglement, yet standard coincidence-based detection architectures fail to provide any advantage over classical strategies. Furthermore, we reveal that the width of this inaccessible region exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on the phase noise rate, implying that simply minimizing fiber dephasing does not necessarily optimize the operational efficiency of the network. These findings provide vital guidelines for the design of practical quantum communication links.