Optica Online Industry Meeting: Quantum Communication
21 January 2025 10:00 - 11:30
Eastern Time (US & Canada) (UTC -05:00)Sponsor
Quantum communication promises to deliver secure communication networks. But how close are we to making the quantum internet a reality? And what challenges still stand in the way?
On Tuesday, January 21st 2025, Optica is organising an Online Industry Meeting. This time our speakers will explore the real-world challenges for tomorrow’s quantum communication networks.
As quantum computers get closer to deployment, the clock is ticking for industries to adopt post-quantum cryptography, or PQC today, and Quantum Key Distribution, or QKD tomorrow. Next-generation encryption is needed to safeguard sensitive data against the threat of quantum attacks. But while PQC holds promise, a truly functional quantum internet requires more than encryption. It relies on innovations like quantum repeaters and quantum memory to store qubits and synchronize network operations. Think of it as enabling teleportation of quantum information.
Despite progress—like achieving a remarkable 120-picosecond quantum memory Qunnect—we’re still grappling with critical challenges. And as well as technical issues, geopolitics is playing a significant role in the adoption of quantum key distribution, or QKD. While Europe is moving forward confidently, security concerns in the US are sparking debates around implementation and regulation.
In our live interactive session, we will hear from Nokia, Airbus, British Telecom, and ESA. They are at the forefront of tackling the Quantum Communication Issues, both in existing fiber networks and space.
As usual, our members, will interact live with them and propose their technology as a solution, companies such as ThinkQuantum, AegiQ, QTI, MemQ, Quantopticon and KPMG will be there; do you want to join the list?
Please register here to join our Zoom room in order to participate in the conversation. Then join us online, Tuesday, January 21st starting at 10 AM Eastern, 4 PM in Europe for a deep dive into the advancements and strategies shaping quantum communication networks.
2025 Optica Online Industry Meetings Calendar
Moderators
Speakers
Zoe Davidson
BT - Research Specialist in Optical Networks
Zoe Davidson joined BT as a Specialist Research Professional for the Optical Networks and Quantum Research team in the Network Strategy and Research department in 2022. Zoe received her Bachelor of Technology 1st(Hons) in Optoelectronics from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and her PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Bristol, UK. Zoe’s research focus at BT is on Photonic Integrated Circuits for use in both classical and quantum networks. Zoe's background is on semiconductor compounds for energy efficient emission in the O- and C-bands, and telecommunications fibre optic network design and deployment.
Tom Lyons
Aegiq - Senior Quantum Systems Engineer
Tom Lyons is a Senior Engineer at Aegiq, a full-stack photonic quantum computing company founded in 2019. After completing a PhD in solid state physics at the University of Sheffield, Tom held two academic fellowships, most recently in the Centre for Emergent Matter Science, RIKEN, Japan, investigating novel materials for future information technologies. Since joining Aegiq, Tom spearheaded the company’s first intellectual property gains in satellite optical communications, and is the delivery lead on >£1.5m of publicly funded innovation projects on quantum networking, most notably the Quantum Link Assurance System (QLAS) in partnership with BT plc.
