PQ-NEXT Core with Laura Domínguez Céspedes, Telefónica Innovación Digital
What drives PQ-NEXT from within? PQ-NEXT Core reveals the minds and teams behind the project. By showcasing the perspectives, insights, and ambitions of those leading its key areas, we uncover the vision and collaboration that shape PQ-NEXT’s vision.
Let’s start by getting to know Laura Domínguez Céspedes, from Telefónica Innovación Digital, a little better and by introducing the team that will work on the project.
I am Laura Domínguez Céspedes, currently working as a Network Security Analyst at Telefónica Innovación Digital (R&D) located in Madrid, which I joined in 2024. My work focuses on securing the next generation of communication networks, with particular attention to emerging challenges in quantum and post-quantum security.
Regarding my academic background, I have a master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, as well as a degree in Telecommunications from the University of Alicante.
My expertise closely aligns with the objectives of the PQ-NEXT project, as I have been actively involved in several research and innovation initiatives related to quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC), including EUROQCI-SPAIN, PQ-REACT, and PQ-NEXT.
Through this work, I have gained experience in evaluating secure communication architectures, contributing to the integration of quantum-safe technologies into transport networks, and analysing potential vulnerabilities in evolving cryptographic systems.
As for the team, the project is led by Antonio Pastor, a senior expert, and brings together a multidisciplinary group of researchers and engineers with expertise in network security, cryptography, and advanced communications. Consisting of Mattin Elorza Forcada and Víctor Hernando Fernández, who have previously collaborated on research projects such as PQ-REACT or QUBIP.
What motivated you to join this EU-wide consortium?
The aspect that has motivated me the most to join this European Union-wide consortium is the opportunity to collaborate with both industry and research communities. Our goal is to address the challenges of the post-quantum transition by developing and validating solutions that can be practically implemented in real-world settings.
What problem does your role in the project address in simple terms, and why is it critical for the project’s implementation?
My role focuses on deploying and orchestrating quantum-secure and hybrid security solutions in a real operator network. In simple terms, the problem to be solved is to address the transition to post-quantum security in live Telco environments without disrupting our clients’ services.
“My role focuses on deploying and orchestrating quantum-secure and hybrid security solutions in a real operator network”
What are the main activities, tasks, and objectives of your work?
The main activities and objectives of our Work Package 4 “Large Scale Pilot Demonstrators” focus on the deployment, integration, and validation of the PQ-NEXT framework across four large-scale pilot environments. Specifically, WP4 includes:
• Prepare a complete integration and validation plan for each pilot testbed. This includes defining the workflow, the required components, and the KPIs that will be used to evaluate performance and security.
• Execution of Pilot Trials, where each pilot leader will deploy the PQ-NEXT framework in realistic operational environments and execute the trials. The goal is to measure and demonstrate the practical benefits of quantum-safe technologies in each scenario.
• Validation of quantum and postquantum cryptography mechanisms and the associated security architectures, ensuring they meet the performance requirements relevant to each use case and sector.
• Verification of how PQC and QKD impact both security KPIs and service KPIs across the pilots. This allows us to identify realistic, practical, and scalable quantum-resistant transition paths.
All previous tasks will be articulated around four pilot-specific tasks:
• Pilot 1 – PQC transition in financial environments
• Pilot 2 – Quantum secure orchestration in a Telco network
• Pilot 3 – Quantum resistant crypto for critical infrastructure
• Pilot 4 – Quantum safe digital documents and identity for municipal services
How is your work connected to the other tasks and activities?
In addition to developing Telco network pilot 2, we are also the leaders of the work package, therefore, we have to ensure that everything is integrated correctly.
Moving on, a personal note. What is the main outcome you personally hope this project will achieve?
I personally hope that this project will deliver a clear, practical, and validated roadmap for the real-world transition to postquantum cryptography across different sectors. Specifically, in terms of migrating widely used protocols to integrate PQC and QKD, such as NETCONF/RESTCONF/TLS, etc. And, to provide implementation best practices that organisations can adopt to carry out a safe, realistic, and cost-effective quantum-resistant migration.
“I personally hope that this project will deliver a clear, practical, and validated roadmap for the real-world transition to postquantum cryptography across different sectors.”
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the post-quantum era?
Looking ahead, what interests me the most about the post-quantum era is the opportunity to actively contribute to and work within a transformative period for security technologies. It is especially motivating to witness how the solutions we develop in innovation projects are increasingly being adopted in real-world production environments, driving meaningful advancements in secure communications.
“It is especially motivating to witness how the solutions we develop in innovation projects are progressively making their way into real-world production environments.”
What it means for a young professional working on such large EU projects
I believe that working on large EU projects as a young professional has allowed me to learn and mature professionally in parallel while advancing projects and technology.
How this could impact your career
Something very important that I think can impact and benefit me in working on these projects is knowing what a project with a two- or three-year timeline is like from the beginning, and learning from all its phases, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams from various sectors.