Toshiba Details Progress in Quantum Secure Networks

Quantum computers that are sufficiently powerful to pose a serious threat to even the most secure data transmitted across networks by breaking public-key encryption are still some years away. However, threat actors are deploying “harvest now, decrypt later” techniques in which they steal and store data to decipher when the technology is available.

This kind of threat poses a particular risk to industries with sensitive and long-lasting data, such as financial services and health care providers, and their customers. Organizations need to start work now to ensure their networks are protected by quantum-safe encryption well in advance.

According to Toshiba, quantum secure networks are the only solution to protect data from interception and decryption, even by quantum computers. Adopting these networks aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of developing

Toshiba has developed a quantum key distribution (QKD) solution that makes data transmitted over existing fiber networks resilient to even quantum attacks by distributing ultra-secure encryption keys.

Toshiba’s QKD progress to date includes collaborating with

JPMorgan Chase, Toshiba and Ciena

 in February 2022 to demonstrate the viability of the first QKD network, ensuring security for mission-critical blockchain applications. In March 2022, 

Toshiba Group and KT

 partnered for QKD distribution pilot projects in South Korea.

In April 2022, EY became the first commercial customer for the Quantum-Secured Metro Network, the 

world's first commercial trial for a QKD network

 built using Toshiba QKD hardware and key management software across BT's fiber network. And in July 2023, 

HSBC 

became the first bank to join the UK's pioneering commercial quantum secure metro network.

Toshiba has also launched a Quantum Networks EXperience Centre (QNEX) located in Singapore in partnership with quantum communications company SpeQtral to demonstrate real-world applications for QKD technology. Toshiba and SpeQtral also recently partnered with Singapore network provider SPTel to bid to build National Quantum-Safe Network Plus (NQSN+) for the Infocomm Media Development Authority.