Toshiba Europe and Single Quantum have partnered to extend the range of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, a secure communication method immune to decryption by conventional and quantum computers. The collaboration has resulted in a solution that extends QKD transmission over fiber connections beyond 300km. Toshiba’s QKD technology and Single Quantum’s superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) were used in the process.
The partnership aims to overcome challenges in QKD deployment in remote areas and across long distances without the need for additional infrastructure. Dr. Andrew Shields of Toshiba and Jessie Qin-Dregely of Single Quantum highlighted the potential of quantum technology in revolutionizing various sectors.
Quantum Key Distribution: A Leap in Long-Distance Deployment
Toshiba Europe Ltd. and Single Quantum B.V. have joined forces to test and validate the long-distance deployment of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology. The collaboration has resulted in a solution that significantly extends the transmission range for QKD deployment over fibre connections, reaching and surpassing 300km. This achievement marks a significant advancement in the field of quantum communication.
QKD leverages the quantum properties of light to generate quantum secure keys that are impervious to decryption by both high-performance conventional and quantum computers. Toshiba’s QKD is deployed over fibre networks, either coexisting with conventional data transmissions on deployed ‘lit’ fibres, or on dedicated quantum fibres.
Overcoming Distance Challenges in QKD Transmission
Toshiba’s unique QKD technology can deliver quantum secure keys in a single fibre optic link at distances of up to 150km using standard integrated semiconductor devices. However, achieving longer distance QKD fibre transmission is challenging due to the attenuation of the quantum signals along the fibre length, known as the optical loss of the fibre link.
To extend QKD transmission, operators typically concatenate fibre links together with trusted nodes along the fibre route which house QKD systems that relay the secret keys. However, the use of multiple trusted nodes may not be practical or desirable along certain networks, such as marine fibre links, cross-border fibre optic links and terrestrial links in locations where suitable buildings cannot be found, such as in remote areas.
Single Quantum’s SNSPDs: A Game Changer in QKD Transmission
To address the challenge of long-distance QKD transmission, Toshiba and Single Quantum have validated the performance of Single Quantum’s superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) working with the Toshiba QKD systems. Single Quantum’s SNSPDs can detect single photons very accurately and efficiently over higher optical loss fibre links, significantly extending the QKD transmission distance over a single fibre optic link.
The collaboration between Toshiba and Single Quantum has resulted in extending the range of QKD transmission from 150km to distances of 300km+, with the low noise and high detection efficiency of Single Quantum’s SNSPDs mitigating the challenges that come with detecting QKD signals over higher loss fibre links.
Integrating SNSPDs with Toshiba’s QKD Technology
In addition to validating the capability of extended range fibre QKD deployment, Toshiba and Single Quantum are providing a solution for extended long-distance QKD transmission over a single fibre link by integrating Single Quantum’s SNSPDs with Toshiba’s QKD technology in a compact, stackable and rack mountable solution.
The superior performance of the Toshiba QKD equipment combined with the unparalleled photon detection rate of the Single Quantum SNSPD’s helps enable market leading secret key rate performance. The system performance over a wide range of optical losses along with the performance across a 300km fibre link has been demonstrated.
The Future of Quantum Secure Communications
The collaboration between Toshiba and Single Quantum is a significant step towards overcoming the challenges in the practical deployment of QKD. As more organizations deploy QKD on networks to protect their data from the risk posed by quantum computers, the ability to implement it efficiently at scale becomes crucial.
The ability to provide users with long-distance networks, without the need for additional infrastructure to link together different nodes, is vital for ensuring that quantum-secure communications are accessible and effective. The collaboration between Toshiba and Single Quantum shows how quantum companies can work together to achieve the goal of overcoming a crucial challenge in the field of quantum communication.
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