The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has released a broad agency announcement seeking proposals on the development of a hybrid quantum-classical communication network architecture with enhanced security capabilities.
DARPA said Tuesday the Quantum-Augmented Network program aims to integrate current and near-future quantum communications networks with classical infrastructure to facilitate quantum-based security enhancements.
Researchers expect the hybrid network infrastructure to use quantum properties to mitigate vulnerabilities on non-quantum networks.
“QuANET will develop the hardware, protocols and software tools required for missions and critical infrastructure, enabling the first viable transition strategy to operationalize quantum communications,” according to the BAA.
“We want to make the networking and optical communications community more quantum-aware – where the capabilities are now and where they’re going – and we want the quantum networking community to understand better all of the complexities and issues facing classical networks,” said Allyson O’Brien, DARPA’s QuANET program manager in the Information Innovation Office.
Responses are due July 7.
