A quantum-security link is live in Palm Beach County, and Miami is next on the list
· First link live October 15, 2026; announced October 21
Palm Beach State College and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) now have a working quantum-security connection, a new way to protect data shared between institutions, and Miami Dade College is planned next.
Infrastructure × Technology
A safer way to share research
The link went live on October 15, 2026, over Palm Beach County’s fiber network. Palm Beach State College leads this first segment with FAU, Palm Beach County, Florida LambdaRail (the network that connects Florida’s universities and research centers) and IonQ, a quantum-technology company. A $1 million FloridaCommerce grant supports it.
What does “quantum security” mean? Picture sending a locked digital envelope: encryption protects what is inside, and a key lets the right person open it. This network uses the physics of light to share those keys and to detect anyone trying to intercept them. In practice, it protects communications between institutions.
Connections to Miami Dade College and FAU’s Jupiter campus are planned next. The first link is working; the Miami extension and the full statewide network are not finished.
- Live since
- October 15, 2026 (announced October 21)
- Connected
- Palm Beach State College and FAU (Boca Raton)
- Partners
- Palm Beach County, Florida LambdaRail, IonQ
- Funding
- $1 million FloridaCommerce grant for this segment
- Planned next
- Miami Dade College and FAU’s Jupiter campus
Why it matters · Our view
Universities exchange sensitive research every day, and this is real, working infrastructure to protect it, with Miami in line for the next connection. It is not a home internet service, and it does not make every connected computer immune to hacking.
Still to be confirmed
No opening date has been confirmed for the Miami Dade College connection, and the statewide expansion depends on further funding.
Sources
- Palm Beach State College announces the first segment of a statewide quantum-safe network (opens in a new tab) (official announcement)
- Palm Beach colleges connect as Florida launches quantum-safe network (opens in a new tab) (Florida LambdaRail, October 22, 2026)
- Palm Beach colleges connect as Florida launches quantum-safe network (opens in a new tab) (The Quantum Insider, October 22, 2026)
Want to know more?
Ask Cathy Mai Phung, founder and editor-in-chief of Miami Reimagined.