Countering the growing threat to traditional network security from quantum computing, BT and Toshiba today announced that the two companies will build and trial what they believe is the world’s first commercially available quantum-secured metro network. The new network will connect sites across London, from Docklands and the City in the east to the M4 Corridor in the west.
The new network will be operated by BT, which will provide a range of quantum-secured services including dedicated high-bandwidth end-to-end encrypted links, delivered over Openreach’s Optical Spectrum Access Filter Connect (OSA FC) solution for private fibre networks. The QKD links will be provided using a quantum network that includes both core and access components and will be integrated into BT’s existing network-management operations. Toshiba will provide quantum key distribution hardware and key management software.
The pace of progress in quantum computers presents an increasing...