Delft, September 29, 2025 -- Q*Bird, a leader in quantum-secure communications is proud to launch the Q*Bird Quantum Domain Controller or (QDC), a secure, web-based platform that centralizes configuration, management, monitoring and control of a Q*Bird Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network.

The QDC addresses the growing complexity of managing multi-node quantum networks. Manual device-by-device configuration using command-line tools or low-level interfaces introduces configuration issues, inconsistent security policies, deployment delays and human error. The QDC replaces these risks with a single, intuitive user-friendly GUI application interface for managing Center Hubs, End Nodes, QKD Links and Secure Application Entities (SAEs).  

“Manually managing QKD networks is complex as they scale. The QDC is more than a management tool. It ensures that the security inherent in quantum networks is coordinated efficiently across the entire system. Centralized control reduces operational risk while accelerating network scalability,” shares Joshua Slater, CTO of Q*Bird.

QDC – The technology powering scalable quantum networks

At its core, the QDC is a secure web browser-based management platform that integrates tightly with Q*Bird’s MDI QKD Falqon Series hardware. Its proprietary design minimises the attack surface while providing seamless compatibility across the Q*Bird ecosystem.  

“We designed QDC to take the complexity out of quantum network management. The QDC is a major leap forward for organizations looking to future-proof their QKD networks,” said Dani van der Meer, Software Engineer of Q*Bird.  

Q*Bird’s Falqon Series based on Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI QKD) eliminates detector-based vulnerabilities by placing all detectors at a Center Hub that never has access to any keys. Within this architecture, Q*Bird’s MQX4000 Center Hub establishes quantum links between multiple nodes, the MQS4000 Optical Switch manages optical transport layer for dynamic QKD key distribution and the MQT4000 User Nodes serve as quantum information transmitters, delivering secure cryptographic keys from the QKD protocol. Together, these components form the backbone of highly secure and scalable quantum networks, where multiple QKD User Nodes can connect to the Center Hub to establish QKD sessions, effectively making the Center Hub function as a quantum-secure server.

A new layer of trust and efficiency in quantum network management

The QDC introduces a set of capabilities that redefine how QKD networks are deployed and maintained:  

• Unified configuration interface: Add, edit and manage Center Hubs, End Nodes, QKD links and Secure Application Entities (SAEs) in one centralized platform.
• Interactive network visualization: Explore both physical and logical topologies with real-time device status and connection health indicators.
   
  Comprehensive monitoring dashboards: Track network state, quantum key generation rates and detailed node-level metrics to ensure optimal performance.
• Proprietary compatibility: Purpose-built to seamlessly integrate with Q*Bird’s MDI QKD Falqon Series hardware.  
• Secure communication protocols: Browser-to-QDC communication via HTTP with an authentication password, and QDC-to-device connections secured through SSH with SSH keys.

“Scaling quantum networks should not compromise security or operational efficiency,” said Joshua Slater, CTO of Q*Bird. “The QDC transforms the way organizations manage QKD networks, centralising control, management, configuration, monitoring and providing full visibility into network operations.”  

“Launching the QDC is a moment of immense pride for our team,” shares Ingrid Romijn, CEO of Q*Bird. “It empowers organizations to manage resilient, scalable and future-proof quantum networks powered by Q*Bird’s MDI QKD Falqon Series.”  

The QDC provides the orchestration layer required for scalable, industrial-grade QKD networks, ensuring seamless integration and operational efficiency.  

“Designing the QDC has been about turning deep technical complexity into something intuitive and accessible for our customers,” said Aditi Rupade, Software Engineer at Q*Bird. “By centralizing control, the QDC eliminates device-level configuration issues and makes network management consistent and reliable.”  

The QDC ships as either a standalone software product, pre-installed on a Q*Bird device, containerized for server deployment, hosted in a cloud environment, or as a hardware product on a Q*Bird provided server. This ensures seamless integration into your existing infrastructure.  

The launch coincides with live demonstrations at ECOC 2025, Copenhagen (27 September – 2 October 2025) – booth #E1206, as part of the PETRUS consortium and Quantum.Tech, Rotterdam (30 September – 1 October 2025) – booth #QM5, where the Q*Bird team is showcasing the QDC in action for customers, industry peers and attendees.  

With the addition of the QDC to its portfolio, Q*Bird reinforces its position as a leader in scalable, industrial-grade quantum networking solutions, delivering both the hardware and the management layer needed to build tomorrow’s secure digital backbone.