• As security awareness heightens, network operators are preparing for the quantum computing age
• Orange Business becomes one of the first service providers to offer quantum-safe networking
• Like other telcos it has sourced the supporting technology from Toshiba

PARIS – VivaTech 2025 – Orange Business, the enterprise services division of the Orange Group, kicked off its week of VivaTech activities with the launch of Orange Quantum Defender, a quantum-safe networking service underpinned by technology from Toshiba, which is playing an increasingly important role in next-generation telecom network security strategies. 

Orange Quantum Defender, already commercially available in Paris over the telco’s existing fibre transport network, protects network traffic against future quantum computing-enabled cyber attacks using Toshiba’s quantum-safe networking technology, which combines hardware-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with software-based Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) “to both protect sensitive data and ensure future data secrecy,” noted the operator. 

According to Orange Business, a major French financial services company has already “connected multiple sites to the network, accessing high-speed, resilient quantum-safe infrastructure to secure its critical financial data.” 

With their strict security standards and strategies, financial sector firms are particularly clued up about the future threat posed by quantum computing-enabled criminals but also the current threat posed by “store now, decrypt later” attacks, whereby hackers access and store sensitive data that can be encrypted later when quantum computing resources become available. They are also clued up about the potential of quantum-safe networking, which is attracting increasing levels of R&D and deployment investments by network operators. 

"We are thrilled to launch Orange Quantum Defender, a first-of-its kind service in France,” stated Orange Business CEO Aliette Mousnier-Lompré. “This is a significant step in the Orange multi-layer quantum-safe networking strategy, as we help our enterprise customers respond to the growing and evolving security threats from quantum computing. Built on the robust technology by Toshiba, we are not just protecting sensitive data today; we are prepared and ready to partner with our customers for a secure and resilient future." 

The quantum safe network follows years of collaboration between Orange and Toshiba in validating QKD for commercial applications: In late 2023, for example, Orange worked with optical network infrastructure vendor Adtran and Toshiba to set up a QKD-secured 100 Gbit/s data stream on a coherent 400 Gbit/s DP-16QAM channel running across a 184km standard single-mode fibre (SSMF) with three QKD links and two trusted nodes – see Orange puts Adtran’s quantum-secure networking tech to the test.

And in early 2024, Orange and Toshiba provided more insight into their ongoing trials, noting that “QKD-secured signals can co-exist with classical data transmissions on the same fibre network, showing how QKD technology can be easily deployed on today’s existing fibre networks alongside existing classical data services. Using QKD on these already deployed fibre networks provides significant cost savings and increased deployment speed as it removes the need to use dedicated fibres for QKD transmission.”

According to Orange Business, the new network “marks a fundamental step not only in protecting highly sensitive commercial data but also supports France’s national quantum strategy”.

And according to Hiroshi Tsukino, VP of the ICT Solutions Division at Toshiba Digital Solutions, “the quantum age isn’t just some fringe concept anymore – large organisations are on the frontline when it comes to the dangers posed by powerful quantum computers. We have been collaborating with Orange for several years to validate QKD technology performance across existing fibre networks, and I’m excited to now jointly launch the first commercial solution that can deliver a quantum-safe future for organisations in Paris.”

Toshiba has also been working with BT Group on its quantum-safe networking developments and was instrumental in the UK telco’s launch of its service in 2022 – see BT targets thousands of businesses with its new quantum-secured network.

And earlier this year, Toshiba announced the successful completion of coherent, secure quantum communications over Deutsche Telekom's existing network using standard fibre optic cable at normal room temperature, which is a significant breakthrough in enabling the deployment of such technology in existing telco infrastructure – see Toshiba brings quantum comms to the telecom network.

For all the latest in quantum-safe networking developments, keep an eye on TelecomTV’s dedicated quantum technology page. 

- Ray Le Maistre, Editorial Director, TelecomTV