The Smart Quantum Technologies for Everything (SmartQuanT4E) experimentation infrastructure is the quantum component within the general SmartNets4E infrastructure. SmartQuanT4E integrates the equipment and links required for experimentation with quantum communication technologies, thereby forming the quantum foundation of the SmartNets4E ecosystem. Like SmartNets4E, this infrastructure is distributed across three UPV/EHU locations separated by approximately 20–25 km: the Bilbao School of Engineering (EIB), the Aeronautics Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFAA), and the main campus in Leioa.

The SmartQuanT4E infrastructure includes QKD equipment that integrates multiple complementary technologies, enabling the exploration and comparison of different approaches to secure quantum communications. Specifically, it includes DV-QKD systems (from ID Quantique), CV-QKD systems (from LuxQuanta), polarization-entanglement-based QKD (from QO-Jena), and MDI-QKD systems (from QBird).

On top of this quantum infrastructure, Ciena DWDM devices are also deployed, enabling the transmission of 100 Gbps data traffic encrypted using keys generated by QKD. These DWDM systems incorporate standardized API interfaces for integration with QKD systems, thus facilitating interoperability between the quantum plane and the classical network plane.

The infrastructure is completed with quantum optical switches that enable dynamic management of quantum links via SDN, as well as high-sensitivity external detectors and quantum random number generators (QRNG), which are essential to ensure the quality and randomness of the keys used in cryptographic processes.

Therefore, SmartQuanT4E provides an ideal environment for experimentation, validation, and demonstration of quantum technologies and their integration with classical networks, positioning it as a reference infrastructure for the development of secure quantum communications and the future Bizkaia QCI network.