Securing today’s communication networks against future quantum threats
Quantum-safe telecommunications without compromise
Quantum computing represents a huge opportunity for telecoms operators and the sectors they serve.
As quantum computers become more widely available, the public key encryption techniques used to keep sensitive information safe today will be rendered insecure.
Preparing communications networks for the quantum era.
The transition to quantum-safe networking has already begun. As quantum computing advances, telecommunications providers face the challenge of protecting critical infrastructure, sensitive data and customer communications against emerging threats, including “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. Organisations must act now to ensure their networks remain trusted, resilient and secure in the quantum era.
Quantum-Safe Networking for telecom operators.
Toshiba’s Quantum-Safe Networking Platform enables telecommunications providers to integrate and scale quantum-safe security into their existing communications networks without compromising operational performance.
Designed for real-world deployment, the QSN Platform provides fundamentally secure quantum-safe networking via a unified, interoperable and extensible platform of products and deployment capabilities.
Importantly, the QSN platform is built to seamlessly integrate into today’s networks and to efficiently scale and grow as your strategy or market dictates.
The platform integrates with existing network infrastructures and can support deployments from a single dedicated connection to large metro, hub-and-spoke, ring, mesh and long-distance networks. Products including the QSN Transceiver, QSN Hub, QSN Spoke, QSN Link and QSN Multiplexer provide a range of network architectures and deployment capabilities, whilst the QSN Controller, QSN KDS and QSN KMS simplify deployment and management.
Toshiba’s carrier-grade platform is designed to integrate with existing networks, support flexible deployment topologies and enable quantum and conventional data traffic to coexist on existing fibre infrastructure.
Built on more than two decades of deployment experience, Toshiba’s technologies have been proven in operational networks worldwide and support operators as they navigate the largest cryptographic transformation in history.
Toshiba’s high performance, high-capacity QSN Platform will enable operators to provide a range of innovative quantum-safe services to complement their existing service portfolios. These services can be deployed to targeted geographies and sectors then easily and efficiently scaled as required throughout the network, serving many users.
Why Toshiba Quantum
Technology
Two decades of research, and unparalleled expertise
We’ve been at the cutting edge of quantum-safe communications since 1999. Building on more than 25 years of research, development and deployment experience, Toshiba has pioneered technologies that underpin today’s Quantum-Safe Networking (QSN) Platform. We continue to advance the science of quantum-safe networking, helping organisations navigate the transition to quantum-safe networking with scalable, real-world solutions that can be deployed today.
Toshiba Quantum Technologies for Telecoms Providers
Latest insights
Podcast spotlight: A (slightly) deeper dive into quantum with Dr Andrew Shields
Toshiba and Orange Business launch Orange Quantum Defender network in Paris
HSBC: Why the Quantum Secure Metro Network is a milestone moment for the financial sector
Why Orange Quantum Defender marks a turning point in enterprise cyber-resilience
Quantum innovations and collaborative futures
Quantum innovations in communications and cybersecurity
Latest resources
Global-Scale Information-Theoretic Secure Communication using QKD and Distributed Secure Key Establishment
Hungary’s First Multi-Link Quantum Key Distribution Network
Building Europe’s largest and most complex quantum network with scalable QKD technology and software-defined networking
[EXTERNAL] Twin-field quantum key distribution with optical injection locking and phase encoding on-chip
Transforming Telecoms: Easing Your Transition to a Quantum-Safe Network
[EXTERNAL] Real-time gigahertz free-space quantum key distribution within an emulated satellite overpass
Future-proof your existing infrastructure against the quantum computing threat while delivering the services and performance your customers demand.
Find out more about our QSN PlatformIn detail: Quantum-safe networking for telecoms
What are the applications of quantum computing in telecoms?
Quantum computing looks set to revolutionise almost every industrial sector. Quantum computers can solve complex mathematical problems that cannot be tackled by traditional machines – or, if they were, would take thousands of years to complete. This increase in computing power alone will have ramifications across the globe.
It certainly affords new opportunities for telecommunications. New products such as Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) could become prevalent, giving researchers and organisations access to quantum computing capabilities via the cloud.
There are many reasons to be excited about quantum technology. But, as we have seen above, quantum computers also threaten the effectiveness of current public key encryption techniques. The telecoms industry can adopt Toshiba’s Quantum-Safe Networking Platform to create truly quantum-safe networks, ensuring sensitive data remains private even as new security challenges emerge.
Why is data vulnerable in transit?
Data in transit is often one of the most exposed forms of sensitive information. As data moves between users, applications, data centres and network locations, it can be vulnerable to interception, eavesdropping and other threats targeting communications infrastructure. Protecting these communications is critical for organisations that rely on the secure exchange of sensitive information.
As quantum computing advances, organisations must also consider the long-term security of data in transit. Information transmitted today may remain valuable for years or decades, making it a potential target for “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. This is why the transition to quantum-safe networking is becoming a strategic priority for organisations seeking to protect critical communications against both current and future threats. The Toshiba Quantum-Safe Networking (QSN) Platform supports this transition through technologies including Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), helping organisations build resilient networks that can adapt as security requirements evolve.
How does QSN address ‘harvest now and decrypt later’ attacks?
‘Harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks are already a reality. Adversaries can capture and store sensitive encrypted data today, with the intention of decrypting it in the future when sufficiently capable quantum computers become available. Financial records, intellectual property, government information and other long-life data may remain valuable for years or decades, making them particularly vulnerable to this threat.
The quantum-safe transition has already begun, and organisations must prepare now to protect critical communications and sensitive data. The migration deadline is determined not by when quantum computers become capable, but by the lifetime of the data being protected and the time required to complete the transition.
Toshiba Quantum-Safe Networking (QSN) provides a scalable foundation for this transition, enabling organisations to introduce quantum-safe protection into existing networks and evolve as requirements change. By supporting technologies such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) within a unified platform, QSN helps organisations protect long-life data against both current and future threats.
Can Quantum-Safe Networking be deployed over existing fibre infrastructure?
Yes. A successful transition to quantum-safe networking should not require organisations to redesign their networks or replace existing fibre infrastructure. Toshiba Quantum-Safe Networking (QSN) is designed to integrate with existing communications networks, helping organisations introduce quantum-safe protection while making use of existing investments.
Technologies within the QSN Platform, including the QSN Multiplexer, support the coexistence of quantum and conventional data traffic on existing fibre infrastructure. This helps organisations simplify deployment, reduce costs and scale quantum-safe networking as requirements evolve.
Why has implementing quantum-safe networking been challenging for telecoms providers?
Historically, deploying quantum-safe technologies within operational telecoms networks has often required changes to network infrastructure, introducing additional cost, complexity and operational considerations. As providers plan the transition to quantum-safe networking, solutions must be able to integrate with existing networks, support operational processes and scale in line with customer and market requirements.
Toshiba Quantum-Safe Networking (QSN) has been designed to address these challenges. Technologies such as the QSN Multiplexer enable quantum and conventional data traffic to coexist on existing fibre infrastructure, helping to reduce deployment costs and complexity. Combined with support for flexible deployment topologies and integration with existing network environments, QSN provides a practical and scalable approach to the transition to quantum-safe networking.
How can quantum-safe networking scale as network requirements evolve?
A successful transition to quantum-safe networking must be able to scale alongside changing business, operational and network requirements. As organisations add users, services and network locations, quantum-safe protection should be able to expand without requiring major changes to the underlying infrastructure.
The Toshiba Quantum-Safe Networking (QSN) Platform is designed to support this growth, providing the flexibility to scale quantum-safe networking as requirements evolve.
By supporting scalable deployment models and flexible network architectures, QSN enables organisations to grow their networks with confidence whilst maintaining quantum-safe protection.
Get news and updates on QKD in the telecoms industry
READ MORE