Photonic Demos Quantum Comms on Existing Networks
Quantum hardware firm Photonic Inc. demonstrated a world-first quantum communications link running over existing telecom network infrastructure in partnership with TELUS. The test illustrates a commercialization pathway for deeptech hardware companies to validate their technology with industry partners. This approach allows for rapid scaling by leveraging deployed infrastructure rather than building new networks.
- The demonstration was not just a data link, but a "quantum teleportation" of information over 30 km of TELUS's deployed PureFibre network into a matter-based quantum processor capable of storing and using the information. This is a key distinction from prior tests that only involved photonic qubits which could be measured but not processed further. - Photonic's core technology is based on silicon spin qubits known as "T centres," which are defects in silicon that can emit photons at telecom wavelengths. This makes them natively compatible with existing fiber optic infrastructure, a key advantage for scaling. - The company was founded by Dr. Stephanie Simmons, a world-leading expert in silicon quantum technologies and co-chair of the advisory board for Canada's National Quantum Strategy. Her academic research into CMOS-compatible quantum tech won Physics World Top Ten Breakthrough of the Year awards in both 2013 and 2015. - Photonic has raised a total of $375 million CAD, with investors including Microsoft, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), the UK's National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and TELUS itself. - This test is part of a broader partnership with TELUS that began in 2024 and gives Photonic dedicated access to a 30-kilometre fibre network to advance quantum encryption and quantum key distribution (QKD) applications for industries like finance and logistics. - The technology is part of Photonic's "Entanglement First™" architecture, which aims to scale by distributing entanglement across multiple nodes, a requirement for fault-tolerant quantum computing. In June 2024, Photonic and Microsoft demonstrated entanglement between two silicon spin qubits in separate modules connected by 40m of optical fiber. - TELUS is actively pursuing quantum-safe solutions, having launched a commercial Quantum-Safe VPN service in November 2025 to offer businesses protection against future threats from quantum computers breaking current encryption methods. - The global quantum communications market is projected to grow significantly, with one forecast estimating it will reach $10.5 billion by 2034, up from $1.1 billion in 2025, driven by cybersecurity needs and government investment.
