Integrating Miniaturised Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Technology Into Existing Communications Infrastructure

By the mid-2030s quantum computers will likely be able to break the core cyber security algorithms on which billions of people, companies, and national critical infrastructure rely. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology provides valuable protection against this future quantum threat, moving beyond standard encryption methods (vulnerable to the above) by establishing cryptographic keys transmitted by single photons, or 'quantum particles' of light, across a quantum channel. However, most QKD systems are based on expensive, energy-intensive, heavy hardware (discrete fibre-optic components. KETS Quantum Security Ltd (KETS) has developed the world's first chip-to-chip QKD technology that greatly reduces these limitations, combining the QKD security benefits with technology that is 3,000 times smaller and uses around 3 times less energy than the competition.

The market opportunity for securing data communication is significant. Serving the QKD telecommunication and data centres segments will alone be worth ~£5B by 2028\. To access this market opportunity, KETS needs to better understand and adapt its product to the actual operating environment in which its customers' infrastructure exists.

This project, _Integrating Miniaturized QKD Technology into Existing Communications Infrastructure_, will focus on adapting and integrating KETS' QKD technology (TRL5) for use in high-value, security-demanding communication customer environments (telco/data centres). The KETS team will first discover and specify the customers' security, protocol and usability requirements for the QKD technology (WP2), then develop, integrate, and iteratively test an adapted QKD system in the respective operational environments (WP3-WP6).

At the end of the project, KETS will have an integrated QKD system product (TRL8) demonstrated in operational telco/data centre environments and ready for commercial scaling. Supported by matched-VC investment (~£3m target), this project will enable KETs to realise £132m cumulative revenue by 2028\. This project will also support further quantum/communications community collaboration between UK hardware, software and components developers. It will contribute to the UK National Quantum Strategy (2023) as part UK plc's overall goal to increase global market share of quantum technology from ~9% (2021/22) to 15% (2033).