Toshiba launches platform for quantum-safe networks

Toshiba has launched its Quantum-Safe Networking Platform, a system intended to help organisations deploy quantum-safe networks at scale.

The platform combines hardware and software in a single architecture for network operators, data centre providers, enterprises and public-sector bodies. It is designed to work with existing network infrastructure, allowing customers to start with a single connection and expand to larger metro, hub-and-spoke, ring, mesh and long-distance networks.

The launch comes as concern grows over the effect future quantum computers could have on current encryption methods. One immediate risk is so-called harvest now, decrypt later attacks, in which encrypted information is collected today and stored for decryption at a later date.

Governments, regulators and standards bodies are increasing pressure on organisations to move critical systems towards quantum-safe security. Toshiba said trials and commercial deployments have already shown the technology can protect important links, but broader deployment across more sites and network types remains the next challenge.

How it works

The new platform supports several approaches to quantum-safe security, including Post-Quantum Cryptography for quantum-resistant key exchange, alongside Quantum Key Distribution and Quantum Random Number Generation.

It allows organisations to apply different levels of security depending on the use case and is intended to reduce the amount of dedicated fibre, extra equipment and trusted network nodes needed for deployment.

The range includes transceivers that combine transmitters and receivers in one unit, hubs that use optical switching to connect multiple sites, and compact spoke endpoints for remote locations. It also includes point-to-point QKD links, multiplexers for sharing existing lit fibre with data traffic, and software for key delivery, key management and centralised network control.

Toshiba said a single hub can serve hundreds of remote sites, which it argues could reduce equipment needs, power use and costs compared with conventional point-to-point setups. It also said its multiplexer allows quantum channels, QKD service channels and third-party dense wavelength division multiplexing traffic to run across existing lit fibre rather than dedicated dark fibre.

Industry shift

Toshiba is entering a market shaped by a wider cryptographic transition. Organisations in sectors with long-lived sensitive data, including government, telecoms, finance and critical infrastructure, face rising pressure to ensure that information protected today cannot be broken in the future by more powerful computing systems.

Hiroshi Tsukino, Vice President, ICT Solutions Division, Toshiba, said: "The quantum-safe transition represents the largest cryptographic transformation in history. A transformation of that scale cannot happen overnight. Organisations need to begin protecting their most critical networks and data today, while establishing a clear path to extend that protection as threats evolve and new standards and operational requirements are introduced.

"Toshiba QSN Platform has been designed to provide a practical path to quantum-safe network adoption. We look forward to expanding Toshiba QSN Platform with telecommunications providers, data center operators and other critical infrastructure providers across EMEA, North America and APAC, supporting the development of secure and resilient digital infrastructure for the quantum era."

The platform is built as a centrally managed system with software-defined networking interfaces for integration into existing environments. Toshiba said the key delivery system supports QKD, PQC and hybrid keys through what it described as a distributed, crypto-agile software layer, with automatic key re-routing and support for different key exchange mechanisms.

Research base

The group said the platform draws on more than 25 years of quantum research and development. It also pointed to previous quantum-safe network deployments with major communications providers and involvement in government-backed quantum networking projects across EMEA, North America and APAC.

Toshiba also highlighted its standards work, including chairing the ETSI Industry Specification Group on Quantum Key Distribution and contributing to wider standards, assurance and certification efforts.

Andrew Shields, Vice President of Toshiba Europe and Head of its Quantum Technology Division, said: "Toshiba QSN Platform dramatically simplifies the rollout of quantum-safe protection by reducing both cost and complexity across large-scale networks. It will transform network deployments by enabling operators to serve multiple customers and nodes from a single exchange-based unit, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware per link. Centralised control, standards-based integration and adaptive key delivery give organizations the flexibility to evolve as threats and requirements change. Our goal is to empower customers to build secure, future-ready networks that can confidently withstand the next era of cyber risk."