ISP BT and partner Toshiba have today announced that they’ve worked with Equinix to achieve the UK’s “first data centre to data centre connection” using their new quantum-secured metro fibre optic network, which they claim will provide businesses that use these facilities with the ability to “protect their data against future sophisticated quantum attacks“.
Just to recap. BT and Toshiba have spent years developing a quantum-secure network that can even harness Openreach’s “standard” fibre optic infrastructure. Such connections are intended to ensure that, should such a communication be intercepted along the way, the sender will be able to tell that the link has been tampered with, and the stolen photons cannot then be used as part of the key, thus rendering the data stream itself incomprehensible to a hacker.
The latest development is that the pair are now providing their quantum secure connectivity at two prime colocation Equinix data centres, located in London’s Canary Wharf and Slough. Customers using the Equinix data centres will thus be able to connect to BT and Toshiba’s quantum-secured metro network and trial the transmission of data, protected using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).
Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group, said:
“Our partnership with Toshiba has already seen us build the world’s first commercial trial of a quantum-secured metro network in London and today marks an important milestone in our journey towards accelerating the commercialisation of quantum-secure connectivity. With quantum technologies moving at an incredible speed, we continue to explore and test the practical technologies emerging from this highly innovative field to secure the UK’s digital infrastructure against future quantum threats”.
Bruce Owen, Managing Director UK at Equinix, said:
“Equinix is committed to making investments in futureproof secure connectivity and hosting, for our customers today and well into the future. We understand just how complex today’s digital challenges can be, which is why we are pioneering the democratisation of quantum secure communications, making it accessible as a service to thousands of businesses worldwide. This collaboration with BT Group and Toshiba is a welcome opportunity to enhance our customers’ access to innovation that will build resiliency in the quantum computing era.”