ARD and Vodafone test quantum key distribution for TV broadcast (heise.de)

• QKD field test between Frankfurt and Mainz over fiber
• Instant detection of eavesdropping via quantum state change
• Hardware ready but no deployment schedule

"ARD, Vodafone, and the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University have tested quantum encryption for TV broadcasts. The technology, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), uses photons in defined quantum states to generate encryption keys. Any eavesdropping attempt alters the quantum states and is immediately detected. The test ran between Frankfurt and Mainz over a dedicated fiber optic link. The hardware is reportedly market-ready, but no timeline for regular broadcast deployment was provided."