Quantum-Safe Communication Architecture for Synchronized Optical Data Center Interconnects

Abstract

This paper examines the architectural, infrastructural, and governance requirements for quantum-safe communication in synchronized optical data center interconnects. The central problem is not merely the replacement of vulnerable public-key primitives with quantum key distribution or post-quantum cryptography, but the integration of those mechanisms into a high-precision optical fabric in which time synchronization, wavelength switching, telemetry, and control traffic are tightly coupled. We argue that synchronization should be treated as a first-class security asset rather than a background service, because the integrity of key exchange, authentication, replay protection, and fault localization depends on temporal coherence across interconnected facilities. The paper proposes a layered reference architecture that separates quantum-safe key management, optical transport, synchronization, policy control, and sustainability governance while preserving interoperability across vendor domains. It analyzes the trade-offs between dedicated quantum channels, coexistence with classical dense wavelength-division multiplexed traffic, and post-quantum cryptographic fallback. Particular attention is given to hollow-core fiber and wavelength-switched intra-data-center interconnects, which reduce latency but also create new dependencies and attack surfaces. The discussion extends to deployment staging, standardization, fairness in multi-tenant environments, resilience under partial compromise, and the environmental cost of cryptographic redundancy. The conclusion is that quantum-safe optical data center interconnect design must be understood as a socio-technical problem in which protocol choice, physical-layer engineering, operational policy, and long-term infrastructure investment are mutually constitutive. Without coordinated governance, quantum-safe islands may emerge that are secure internally but fragile externally.