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Work item:
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YSTR.QKDN-PPQ
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Subject/title:
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Plug‑and‑Play 1xN Quantum Key Distribution Module for QKDN
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Status:
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Under study
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Approval process:
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Agreement
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Type of work item:
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Technical report
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Version:
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New
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Equivalent number:
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-
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Timing:
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2026-07 (Medium priority)
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Liaison:
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ITU-T SG17, ISO/IEC JTC3, ETSI ISG-QKD
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Supporting members:
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Korea (Rep. of), ETRI, KAIST
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Summary:
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Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) remains difficult to commercialize because high module costs prevent both service providers and end‑users from reaching breakeven. To overcome this bottleneck, this Technical Report introduces a plug‑and‑play (P&P) 1×N QKD module. Eight tunable lasers in a central server are shared across up to 64 channels through wavelength‑division multiplexing (WDM) and polarization‑division multiplexing (PDM), while subscriber units retain only reflection and modulation functions, drastically lowering unit costs.
The savings translate into lower service fees, enabling users to adopt QKD with compact terminals and reduced monthly costs. Although the design supports 1×64 scalability, a 1×4 commercial pilot linking four sites in Seoul (Umyeon‑dong to Banpo and beyond) has already demonstrated QBER < 5 %, confirming technical stability.
These structural and economic benefits provide solid grounds for adding multi‑channel star topology and operational‑efficiency KPIs (e.g., quantum key generation rate, quantum bit error rate (QBER), laser optimal timing, etc.) to the ITU‑T SG13 QKDN standard framework and position the 1×N module as a practical solution to the main barrier hindering widespread QKD adoption.
This technical report provides informative guidelines for cost-effective and scalable QKDN implementation, emphasizing interoperability with existing plug-and-play QKD systems. It highlights the need for security validation methods for star topology and operational efficiency strategies within the standard framework, contributing to global technical cooperation and QKDN standardization efforts within SG13.
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Comment:
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-
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Reference(s):
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Historic references:
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Contact(s):
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First registration in the WP:
2025-07-30 15:21:13
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Last update:
2026-03-11 16:28:09
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