A new collaboration between the BT Group, Toshiba, and Equinix will see the UK’s first quantum-secure connectivity between two prime data centres, it’s been announced.

Businesses using the Equinix data centres situated in London’s Canary Wharf and the English town of Slough will be able to connect to BT Group’s and Toshiba’s quantum-secured metro network and trial the transmission of data, protected using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).

With the continued development and acceleration of quantum computers, the risk to current encryption techniques is ever increasing. Quantum computing has the potential to crack the mathematics underpinning much of the cryptography that’s currently deployed to make networks secure.

However, QKD-based security is unique because of the inherent key exchange underpinning it. With the upcoming collaboration, businesses utilising the network can test “quantum keys-as-a-service,” and which BT said “marks a significant step towards making quantum secured communications more accessible.”

Commenting on the collaboration, chief security and networks officer at BT Group, Howard Watson, 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, who serves as Equinix’s managing director UK, added: “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.”

Hiroshi Tsukino, corporate officer and corporate vice president of Toshiba Corporation, and Vice President of ICT Solutions Division at Toshiba Digital Solutions, also said: “Our collaboration with BT Group and Equinix is a critical next step on our shared journey to commercialise QKD services in the UK, bringing quantum-secure communications to more organisations.

“We are focused on ensuring all businesses are provided with the opportunity to protect their data from retrospective attacks with a quantum computer.

“Together we are building the ultra-secure networks that will be the bedrock for the future quantum internet.”

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The news of the upcoming quantum-secure connectivity between the data centres comes nearly two years after BT’s and Toshiba’s announcement of the building and trialling of the world’s first commercially available quantum-secured metro network.

HSBC became the first bank to join the network, which it then utilised in December 2023 for its trial regarding quantum-protected, AI-powered foreign exchange trading.