- BT and Toshiba have already deployed a quantum-safe metro network in the London area
- Now they have teamed up with datacentre operator Equinix
- Its facilities in Canary Wharf, London, and Slough will be connected by data links protected using quantum key distribution
BT, already one of the telecom sector’s leaders in the development of quantum-safe networking services, has taken its post-quantum strategy to the next level: Together with existing partner Toshiba, it has teamed up with Equinix to enable quantum-secure connectivity between the datacentre operator’s facilities in Slough, located west of London, and Canary Wharf, in the financial district of the UK capital.
BT and Toshiba have already established a quantum-safe metro network, whereby user data is protected as it traverses the optical fibres using quantum key distribution (QKD), linking London and Slough. That service is already being used by consulting giant EY – see BT boasts quantum security breakthrough with Toshiba, EY.
Now, enterprises using Equinix’s Slough and Canary Wharf datacentres will be able to connect to the BT/Toshiba network and try the service. “Located in the heart of London’s financial services district and an area densely populated by businesses, the two sites provide ideal points for a wide range of organisations to trial ‘quantum keys-as-a-service’ and [the move] marks a significant step towards making quantum-secured communications more accessible,” noted BT.
