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Research dossier · version 1 · updated Oct 29, 2026

Quantum Networks & Post-Quantum Cryptography: State of the Field (October 2026)

An expert briefing, current to 29 October 2026, on quantum key distribution (QKD), entanglement-based quantum networks and repeaters, and the migration to the NIST post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA. The central takeaway is that PQC has become the standardized, mandated and already-deployed route to quantum-safe security: NIST's final transition report (IR 8547, dated 27 October 2026) is reported to set 2030 and 2035 milestones for quantum-vulnerable public-key algorithms, US federal policy reportedly directs the most sensitive systems toward PQC key establishment by the end of 2030, and hybrid ML-KEM key exchange is now an IETF standard for TLS 1.3. QKD keeps setting records (1,002 km of spooled fibre, a reported 254 km of commercial fibre, and a trusted-relay satellite key exchange), but long links still depend on trusted nodes, and a 2026 trapped-ion experiment held memory-to-memory entanglement over 10 km of fibre for the average time needed to create it.

6,420 words108 sources27 evidence-mapped claims19 benchmarks20 timeline events✓ citation-verified Oct 30, 2026

AI-assisted synthesis of the cited literature, independently fact-checked against its sources; not peer reviewed.

Contents

  1. Executive summary
  2. Background and core concepts
  3. Timeline of key milestones
  4. State of the art
  5. Standards and the federal transition
  6. Protocol integration and measured deployment
  7. Cryptanalysis and implementation security of PQC
  8. QKD security in practice
  9. Fibre QKD: distance, rate and coexistence
  10. Free-space and satellite links
  11. Entanglement networks, repeaters and DI-QKD
  12. Quantum threat: resource estimates
  13. Quantitative benchmarks
  14. Open problems and active debates
  15. Major programs and players
  16. Outlook: what to watch (November 2026 to April 2028)
  17. Key papers
  18. Glossary

Sample findings

  • NIST published ML-KEM (FIPS 203), ML-DSA (FIPS 204) and SLH-DSA (FIPS 205) on 13 August 2024.
  • NIST's final transition report (IR 8547, dated 27 October 2026 on NIST's publication page) is reported to set 2030 deprecation and 2035 disallowance milestones for RSA, ECDSA, EdDSA and finite-field and elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman; these milestones were not confirmed against the report text, and whether the 2030 step extends beyond 112-bit parameter sets is unconfirmed.
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