Quantum-Safe Readiness: Operators Prepare for Q-Day

Why It Matters

Organizations that delay risk exposure from already-collected encrypted data and may face costly breaches and regulatory fallout; starting now with AI-enabled, zero-trust and post-quantum readiness reduces future decryption risk and preserves business continuity.

Summary

Speakers at the Barcelona discussion warned that “Q-Day” — the point when quantum computers can break today’s encryption — is likely four to eight years away, and urged organizations to act now because adversaries are already harvesting data to decrypt later. They recommended deploying post-quantum cryptography and hybrid approaches (including quantum key distribution) while acknowledging distance and deployment limits, and emphasized AI-driven, end-to-end defenses to close weak links. Practical steps include comprehensive inventories of data and systems, prioritizing long-lived data for immediate protection, and building crypto agility to switch algorithms as standards evolve. Identity and certificate lifecycle management, plus carrier and service-provider roles in protecting transport, were highlighted as critical operational priorities.

Original Description

What does Q-Day really mean for network operators—and how close are we to needing quantum-safe security? In this expert panel, industry leaders unpack the real-world risks quantum computing poses to telecom and enterprise networks, and how operators should be preparing today.

Recorded by FNTV in Barcelona 2026, this discussion explores the state of quantum-safe strategies, emerging cryptographic standards, and how operators can balance readiness with cost and operational complexity. The panel also examines whether AI can play a meaningful role in validating and strengthening quantum-resilient security frameworks.

The conversation features insights from VIAVI Solutions, Palo Alto Networks, and F5, bringing together perspectives from test and assurance, cybersecurity, and application-layer protection.

Panelists include:

Dr. Sameh Yamany, Chief Technology & AI Officer, VIAVI Solutions

Helmut Reisinger, CEO for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Palo Alto Networks

Michael Montoya, CTO, F5

Key topics include:

What Q-Day is and why operators should care now

Which quantum-resilient cryptographic techniques are gaining traction

How and when operators should begin validating quantum-safe solutions

Practical ways to prioritize security investments without overextending budgets

The most overlooked risks in today’s evolving network security landscape

Watch the full panel to understand how quantum computing could reshape network security—and what operators can do now to stay ahead.

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