NTT and OptQC Target One Million Fault-Tolerant Qubits by 2030

NTT and OptQC have established a business alliance, with NTT planning investment in OptQC to accelerate development of a fault-tolerant optical quantum computer with approximately one million qubits by fiscal year 2030. This collaboration extends beyond research and development to encompass commercialization, supply chain development, and real-world implementation of the technology. The companies aim to address complex challenges in fields like finance and medicine, believing optical quantum computers offer potential scalability and energy efficiency. The agreement states they will enhance their talent base and research and development environments.

NTT established a research and development hub for optical quantum computers at its Atsugi R&D Center, while OptQC operates “MoQuren,” its first optical quantum computer at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology’s G-QuAT center. A joint research team recently achieved what they claim is the world’s highest-quality quantum light source, a critical component for improving optical quantum computer performance; this achievement represents a key foundational technology toward the realization of reliable and practical optical quantum computers.

Overcoming technical hurdles remains central to the alliance, including realizing fault-tolerant quantum computing, scaling to one million qubits, developing a practical software platform, and integrating systems for real-world use. The collaboration aims to combine NTT’s expertise in optical communications with OptQC’s quantum computing technologies, accelerating the commercialization of this computing platform.