Toshiba aims to launch quantum cryptography systems by 2020

Toshiba says it wants to bring an ‘uncrackable’ system that applies quantum cryptography to the market by 2020. By laying fiber optic cables that are not connected to the internet, photons can be sent up to 100 km without repeaters.

Toshiba’s plans for quantum cryptography are revealed in The Wall Street Journal. A problem with applying quantum cryptography is that establishing a secure connection between systems over longer distances is difficult because repeaters cannot be used. Also, the photons traveling over these connections are very sensitive to heat and vibration.

Toshiba believes it has partly solved the problem by laying its own fiber connections that would not require repeaters over a distance of up to 100 km. As a result, the photons with the necessary keys and the encrypted content remain intact, and in theory uncrackable connections can be made. The fiber optic connections are also not connected to the internet.

Toshiba is currently still conducting laboratory tests, but in August the Japanese company wants to do tests together with Tohoku University by sending datasets with genetic information via the encryption technology. Toshiba hopes to be able to commercially offer the first quantum cryptography systems around 2020, especially to large companies and government institutions. The prices are still high: the necessary servers alone cost more than 71,000 euros each.