Quantum enabled hybrid fiber cable loop

A method, comprising:

• determining, by a processing system including a processor, that quantum entanglement be established between a first node and a second node of a service provider network comprising a software defined network (SDN) that facilitates delivery of a service to a service subscriber;
• identifying, by the processing system, a path between the first node and the second node based on pre-provisioned information supplied by the SDN;
• determining, by the processing system, a path length of the path based on the pre-provisioned information supplied by the SDN;
• identifying, by the processing system, a repeater node responsive to the path length exceeding a threshold, wherein the path comprises a first segment between the first node and the repeater node having a segment length that does not exceed the threshold;
• and
• facilitating, by the processing system, a sharing of a quantum entanglement state between the first node and the second node to obtain a shared quantum entanglement state based on transportation of a first photon of a first entangled pair of photons via the first segment.

A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• determining that quantum entanglement be established between a first node and a second node of a service provider network comprising a software defined network (SDN) that facilitates delivery of a service to a service subscriber;
• identifying a path between the first node and the second node based on pre-provisioned information supplied by the SDN;
• estimating a path length of the path based on the pre-provisioned information supplied by the SDN;
• selecting a quantum repeater node responsive to the path length exceeding a threshold, wherein the path comprises a first segment between the first node and the quantum repeater node having a segment length that does not exceed the threshold;
• and
• facilitating a sharing of a quantum entanglement state between the first node and the second node to obtain a shared quantum entanglement state based on transportation of a first photon of a first entangled pair of photons via the first segment.