euNetworks has launched a private connectivity service called Quantum Shield to protect enterprise data against the emerging threat of quantum-enabled decryption. Built on Adtran’s FSP 3000 optical transport platform, the offering applies Layer 1 encryption to secure traffic between European data centres, addressing long-term confidentiality requirements without impacting application performance.
The service specifically targets the “harvest now, decrypt later” risk: sophisticated attackers and state-backed actors are already collecting large volumes of encrypted traffic in hopes that future quantum computers will be able to break widely used asymmetric schemes such as RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography. With fault-tolerant quantum machines anticipated within the next decade, organisations must protect today’s transmissions to prevent future compromise.
Quantum Shield is being deployed across euNetworks’ fibre footprint that connects 17 major European data centre hubs and over 536 facilities. The initial focus is on industries where confidentiality must be preserved for many years, notably finance, healthcare and government, where exposure of archived or intercepted traffic could be particularly damaging.
The technical approach
By implementing encryption at the optical layer (Layer 1), Quantum Shield protects all data traversing the physical fibre path without requiring per-application or per-protocol configuration. This protocol-agnostic method avoids the latency and processing overhead commonly introduced when traffic is encrypted at higher layers in the software stack.
The security design combines two principal mechanisms:
- Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Quantum Shield uses NIST-selected, quantum-resistant algorithms integrated through Adtran’s ConnectGuard encryption software to defend against prospective quantum attacks.
- Hybrid key exchange: To mitigate risks from potential weaknesses in new PQC standards, the solution uses a hybrid approach that combines quantum-resistant algorithms with well-established classical cryptography. If a future flaw is discovered in a PQC primitive, the legacy cryptographic layer helps preserve security.
Marisa Trisolino, CEO of euNetworks, said: “Data centre connectivity lies at the core of our customers’ operations, especially where security and resilience are non-negotiable. We’re committed to delivering connectivity that meets increasingly stringent security demands and chose to partner with Adtran because of their expertise in optical networking and practical experience building private infrastructure at scale.
“Together we offer connectivity that balances strong security, predictable performance and clear visibility of the underlying network, while giving customers control over how their data is encrypted. As customer expectations evolve, trusted partners and proven solutions are essential to supporting long-term digital growth across Europe.”
Enterprise adoption and use cases
While major suppliers such as Cisco, Nokia and Ciena have been developing PQC-capable systems, euNetworks’ announcement marks a notable commercial deployment by a carrier. The rollout is expected to be targeted rather than a universal replacement, applied strategically to protect specific high-value traffic corridors.
Key use cases include:
- Data centre replication: Securing large-volume backups and disaster recovery links to prevent archived data from being exposed in the future.
- Cloud infrastructure: Protecting workloads and data transfers between private infrastructure and public cloud environments where long-term confidentiality matters.
- R&D and trading hubs: Connecting facilities that handle sensitive intellectual property or high-speed financial transactions to prevent interception and future decryption.
Christoph Glingener, CTO of Adtran, commented: “Operators like euNetworks are setting a clear benchmark for secure data centre connectivity. This deployment demonstrates how purpose-built optical platforms, developed through decades of secure DCI expertise, can underpin private network models that prioritise security, transparency and operational control.
“By combining quantum-resilient encryption with real-time fibre monitoring, we are helping euNetworks protect critical traffic without compromising performance or scalability. This reflects a broader shift in how critical connectivity is being built, giving enterprises confidence that their networks are prepared not only for today’s needs but for the security challenges ahead.”
The commercial approach is likely to see Quantum Shield applied where it delivers the most value — protecting time-sensitive or high-risk data flows rather than replacing existing encryption everywhere — enabling organisations to balance cost, performance and quantum-resilient security.
euNetworks’ Quantum Shield underscores the growing industry emphasis on protecting long-term confidentiality as quantum computing advances. By integrating PQC, hybrid key exchange and Layer 1 encryption on a mature optical platform, the offering gives enterprises a practical path to future-proof critical connectivity across Europe while maintaining operational control and predictable performance.