Open-Source Quantum Communication Systems
Marc Kaplan
CEO
Marc Kaplan has worked in the area of quantum information for more than fifteen years. He received his PhD from University Paris-Sud and worked in Montreal with Gilles Brassard, the co-inventor of quantum cryptography. Before founding VeriQloud, his research has focused on using quantum algorithms to break classical cryptographic systems, and on the design of quantum-resistant alternatives. He is the CEO of VeriQloud, a company developing solutions for long-term security based on quantum technologies.
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VeriQloud has been founded by a team of researchers evolving in the area of quantum technologies since its early days. These led us to develop a strategic vision of the impact that quantum will have on technology, security and even the whole society.
Based on pioneering work on applications of quantum communication, our developments are based on two major principles that distinguish us from other companies in the field:
QLine: Building the Quantum Internet’s First Open Playground
From theory to practice
Quantum communication promises secure, high-impact applications. In its simplest form, two parties exchange quantum information to achieve a shared outcome. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is the best known example: Alice sends quantum pulses, Bob measures them, and together they establish a secret key. QKD is already deployed in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Yet QKD is only one part of a broader field. Protocols such as quantum digital signatures, un-clonable quantum tokens and oblivious transfer hold significant potential, but most remain confined to papers rather than products. The reason is straightforward: implementing them is technically demanding.
Why quantum systems are hard to build
A practical quantum link spans multiple disciplines. Photonics, electronics, FPGA firmware, low-level control and software must interoperate with precision. Reproducing theoretical security guarantees on real hardware requires meticulous engineering. Most commercial QKD units are closed, single-purpose systems. They can be costly, inflexible and difficult to extend, (in the whole) which slows experimentation and innovation much to the frustration of many QSECDEF members.
Enter QLine: an open toolkit for quantum builders
QLine may remove at least some of these barriers. Think of it as a Raspberry Pi for quantum networks. It is an open-source, modular, telecom-grade platform designed for rapid prototyping across quantum communication protocols.
QLine encodes qubits using time-bin phase encoding - a robust, field-tested approach. The platform integrates lasers, modulators, interferometers and detectors with open hardware and software. The control stack is written in Rust - combining performance with strong safety guarantees.
For tight synchronisation, QLine uses White Rabbit, the sub-nanosecond timing protocol developed at CERN - the same class of precision used in high-energy physics.
Build and test without a lab
QLine includes a full hardware emulator, enabling teams to write, test and debug protocols in software before moving to physical equipment. Code that runs on the emulator runs on the hardware unchanged - reducing integration risk and accelerating iteration. This mirrors how the classical internet matured: software-defined experimentation first, infrastructure deployment second.
Roadmap and vision
Several advanced protocols, including oblivious transfer, have already been prototyped on QLine. In the coming months, VeriCloud will release the emulator, documentation and demonstration applications. Over time, both emulator and hardware will be available as a service - allowing developers to build and evaluate quantum applications remotely.
The goal is ecosystem growth. By lowering the barrier to hands-on experimentation, QLine aims to bridge the gap between dense academic results and deployable systems.
The quantum internet will not be built by elite laboratories alone. It will be accelerated by open platforms that let more people design, test and refine real protocols.
Market classification
Domain: Quantum Communication
Sector: Quantum Networking & Infrastructure
Sub-markets and adjacent domains
Secure Communication
Quantum Cryptography
Post-Quantum Security
Edge Quantum Computing
Software-Defined Networking for Quantum Systems
Competitor categories
QKD appliance vendors, for example ID Quantique, Toshiba
National quantum network initiatives, for example EuroQCI, China’s QKD backbone
Niche photonics testbeds and SDKs
Market outlook
Global QKD market projected to exceed $6 billion by 2030
Growing emphasis on hybrid quantum-classical networks
Government and defence priorities driving near-term funding
Demand drivers
Rising urgency for post-quantum secure communication
Interest in new cryptographic primitives, for example quantum digital signatures and unclonable tokens
Research acceleration enabled by open-source prototyping platforms
Adoption of Rust and integrated hardware-emulator workflows that shorten development cycles
