DARPA Awards Contract to Qunnect to Advance Real-Time Polarization Compensation for Quantum Networks

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a research contract to quantum networking hardware startup Qunnect to enhance the signal stability and resilience of entanglement-based telecom fiber networks. Associated with DARPA's Quantum Augmented Networks (QuANET) program and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiatives, the contract provides funding to advance the next generation of Qunnect's automated polarization compensation module, a core component within its flagship Carina™ entanglement distribution system.

[ Qunnect Carina™ Polarization Stabilization Pipeline ] │ ┌──────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ Field Telecom Fiber Network Environment Carina Active Noise Cancellation • Environmental Temp & Phase Fluctuations. • Real-Time Polarization Drift Analysis. • Signal Fidelity Degradation in Transit. • Active Counter-Phase Correction Modules. • Deployed Metro Fiber Networks (NYC, Berlin, ABQ). • High-Fidelity Entanglement Preservation.

In real-world telecommunications infrastructure, ambient temperature shifts, mechanical stress, and physical vibrations cause rapid polarization drift in optical fiber, corrupting single-photon quantum states in transit. Qunnect’s Carina platform acts like active noise-canceling headphones for quantum signals, executing continuous real-time analysis and automated counter-phase shifts to preserve quantum entanglement fidelity across deployed metropolitan fiber without requiring dedicated cooling or laboratory environments.

Operating on commercial fiber links in New York City, Berlin (with Deutsche Telekom), Albuquerque, and Bozeman (with Montana State University), Qunnect's hardware supports government, defense, and telecommunications initiatives aimed at connecting distributed quantum processors, precision timing sensors, and secure communications. Led by Qunnect CEO Noel Goddard and Chief Science Officer Mehdi Namazi, the DARPA contract focuses on scaling active polarization stabilization tools for multi-node, field-deployed quantum infrastructure.

Review the announcement on PR Newswire here, and examine our previous coverage of Qunnect and Monarch Quantum Commercializing Deployable Quantum Networking Infrastructure here.

August 13, 2026