B.C. telecom Telus (TSX:T) says it will open its fibre-optics network to another B.C. company – Photonic Inc. – to test quantum technology applications.
Photonic Inc. is a B.C. company founded by Stephanie Simmons, an associate professor at Simon Fraser University’s Department of Physics and co-chair of the advisory board to Canada’s National Quantum Strategy. The company specializes in quantum computing networking.
Last year, the company raised $138 million (US$100 million) from a consortium of corporate and government investors, including Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT).
Under an agreement with Photonic, Telus will give Photonic dedicated access to 30 kilometres of its fibre-optic network to test quantum networking.
“This collaboration with Telus allows us to move from the lab into real-world applications, showcasing the compatibility of our technology with existing infrastructure,” Simmons said in a news release. “It marks a significant step forward in building the foundation for a quantum-ready future that will revolutionize computing and digital communication across Canada and beyond.”
“At Telus we believe quantum computing is the next frontier in digital communications and I’m excited to see breakthroughs and innovations from Photonic,” said Telus CTO Nazim Benhadid.
“This collaboration is part of our broader commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies that will support a secure and connected future in Canada. By building the quantum infrastructure today, we are helping unlock economic potential and empower industries to innovate and compete globally.”
Quantum networking is believed to hold promise of superior security by using quantum signals to create more secure encryption.
