This Research Note draws on the context of Quantum.Tech USA 2025 to highlight Telecom’s Quantum Readiness Gap. With quantum security no longer a futuristic concept, but a current imperative, there are profound implications for digital infrastructure. Q-Day won’t be a sudden collapse but a gradual, uneven threat unfolding over time – and telecom operators and suppliers have a key role to play innovating to cope with the consequences. Midstack innovation, often overlooked, is a quiet accelerator reshaping the security landscape.

One significant development is the marked shift in US narratives on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), from historical scepticism to more serious engagement. However, QKD needs to mature into telco-grade technology, requiring Network Equipment Provider (NEP) and even OSS vendor support. While Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) has momentum, its implementation is a complex strategic transformation. Ultimately, the transition requires a layered, interoperable approach combining PQC, QKD, and Quantum-Secure Communications (QSC), along with action from CSPs, NEPs, and OSS/BSS vendors. Inertia may ultimately prove to be telecom’s greatest point of post-quantum vulnerability.