Company · Cambridge
Quantum key distribution is the focus of Toshiba Europe's Cambridge laboratory, which sells long-distance and multiplexed QKD systems alongside a key management product. Its equipment runs on the quantum-secured metro network that BT operates in London, which HSBC joined in July 2023 to link Canary Wharf with a Berkshire data centre 62 km away. The Cambridge team reported twin-field QKD over more than 250 km of deployed fibre in Nature in April 2025, using room-temperature detectors. Toshiba Europe also partners the Integrated Quantum Networks hub, and in March 2026 launched a way to bridge separate QKD networks using post-quantum cryptography.
Toshiba Europe is a company in Cambridge. In this directory it leads AQuaSeC and is a partner in 9 more. Profiled here: Andrew Shields (Head of Toshiba Quantum Technology Division).
Sources: Toshiba Europe: Quantum Technology · Toshiba: HSBC becomes first bank to join the UK's commercial quantum-secure metro network (July 2023) · Toshiba Europe: Breakthrough brings quantum communications to existing national-scale telecommunications infrastructure · Gateway to Research: Integrated Quantum Networks hub, EP/Z533208/1 · Toshiba Europe: Bridging solution for quantum-safe networks (March 2026)
AQuaSeC
A Toshiba-led consortium that built prototype quantum-safe communication systems. It combined quantum key distribution with quantum-resistant algorithms.
Role: Lead
Themes: Communications, Networks
IQN
A national research hub building quantum networks, from local links to satellite connections. Heriot-Watt University leads it.
Role: Partner
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Networks, Communications
QEPNT
A national research hub for quantum position, navigation and timing, led by the University of Glasgow. It aims to reduce reliance on satellite signals such as GPS.
Role: Partner
Funding: £21.9m
Themes: Timing and navigation, Sensing, Defence and security
A commercial trial of a quantum-secured fibre network in London, run by BT with quantum key distribution equipment from Toshiba.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
Quantum Sensing Mission Primer
Innovate UK contracts for 14 projects building quantum sensors and position, navigation and timing products, run as phase 1 of the sensing missions.
Role: Partner
Funding: £14m
Themes: Sensing, Timing and navigation, Imaging
Quantum Missions pilot
An Innovate UK competition that funded industry projects in quantum computing and quantum networks towards the UK quantum missions.
Role: Partner
Themes: Computing, Networks
A BT-led consortium developing ways to assure the security and reliability of quantum key distribution systems.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
An Arqit-led consortium working on UK manufacture of quantum key distribution payloads for satellites.
Role: Partner
Themes: Communications, Networks
QFoundry
A consortium led by the Compound Semiconductor Centre in Cardiff to set up an open-access foundry for quantum semiconductor components.
Role: Partner
Themes: Materials and components, Communications, Sensing
CQT Challenge
An Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund programme, delivered by Innovate UK, that funded companies to turn quantum research into products.
Role: Partner
Funding: £174m
Themes: Computing, Sensing, Imaging, Communications, Timing and navigation
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention Toshiba Europe.
Quantum networking is the business of moving quantum information between machines that sit in different places, and almost everything sold under that name today does one narrow job. It delivers encryption keys over optical fibre one photon at a time. Anyone listening in changes what arrives, and giv
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Researchers demonstrate that quantum key distribution, using photons—even with imperfect devices—can still achieve provably secure communication.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Dr. Andrew Shields of Toshiba Europe elected to the Royal Society, recognizing his advances in secure quantum key distribution and systems for a.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
The top quantum networking companies in 2026 across three layers: quantum key distribution, quantum-internet entanglement distribution, and the software orchestration that links them. Plus the IonQ rollup that acquired ID Quantique and Qubitekk in 2025.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
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