en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam (QCFR) was officially launched on June 18, 2026, at RDM Next in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Co-founded by INSPIR8ION, Eurofiber, Q*Bird, Cisco, and CGI, the lab aims to provide a testing, validation, and operational practice environment for quantum-secure communication for critical and public infrastructure.

This field lab marks the transition of quantum-secure communication from early pilot stages to mass deployment. Quantum computers are expected to eventually crack some of the encryption currently protecting digital communications, and quantum-secure communication aims to help organizations prepare for this shift, safeguarding banks, medical data, government communications, and critical digital infrastructure such as ports and power grids. Another driver for launching QCFR is addressing the "harvest now, decrypt later" risk, where currently intercepted sensitive data could be decrypted in the future.

QCFR builds on existing practices in Rotterdam. In 2024, a consortium including the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Q*Bird, Cisco, Eurofiber, Portbase, Intermax, and InnovationQuarter achieved what is claimed to be the world's first scalable quantum internet connection at the Port of Rotterdam. In 2025, Eurofiber and Q*Bird received €1 million in support for the QUEST project, funded by "Kansen voor West III" and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Province of South Holland, to deploy Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) infrastructure between two Eurofiber data centers in the Randstad and offer commercial QKD services. As an extension of these two initiatives, QCFR will focus on quantum-secure communication technologies, including QKD and advanced QKD protocols such as Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD), evaluating their technical resilience, interoperability, operational feasibility, and integration capabilities with existing infrastructure.

QCFR also supports capacity building, knowledge transfer, and hands-on learning, informing the certification and assurance methods needed for future large-scale trusted adoption. Meindert Stolk, Regional Minister for Economy and Innovation of the Province of South Holland, stated that the lab represents the next step for Rotterdam and South Holland in the field of quantum-secure communication. Secure communication is not only a critical issue for Europe's busiest port but also a core concern for critical infrastructure and government organizations in the region. Through collaborative action, the consortium has seized a significant economic opportunity and will make an important contribution to Europe's security.

QCFR is managed and coordinated by INSPIR8ION; Eurofiber provides digital infrastructure and data center environments; Q*Bird supplies quantum-secure communication technology; Cisco offers networking technology for governments and enterprises; and CGI provides system integration. These partners are supported by the Port of Rotterdam, the Municipality of Rotterdam, InnovationQuarter, and the Province of South Holland. The launch event brought together representatives from government, industry, knowledge institutions, and innovation ecosystems.

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