Quantum Technology Capital: UKQNtel - Bringing the Telecoms Industry to the UK Quantum Network

量子通信技术是新的、颠覆性的技术，通过提供基于物理定律的安全性，它可以超越我们今天使用的技术。目前的原型利用量子不确定性和随机性来保证安全，下一代技术可能会使用更奇怪和违反直觉的纠缠特性。信息安全是绝对必要的今天无处不在-为个人，机构，企业，政府和国家。当前的安全通信系统存在一些漏洞，一些现在处于危险之中，而另一些则可能在未来随着计算能力和黑客技术的改进而暴露出来。基于量子物理学的安全通信可以消除其中一些漏洞，提供安全性受到自然法则支持的系统，例如提供加密密钥的安全分发。通过EPSRC，英国政府正在大力投资开发一系列新的量子技术，其中通信是其中的一部分。量子通信中心的资金用于开发当前的量子密钥分发（QKD）原型，并将下一代量子通信演示转化为原型技术。其目的是：-为诸如电话的移动的设备开发短程、低成本QKD;-开发芯片级QKD模块，以便于制造和广泛和多功能的部署; -研究量子通信的新方向，超越简单的QKD，例如量子版本的数字签名，用于签署电子消息或文件;- 展示网络上的QKD及其与传统通信的集成。新项目UKQNtel建立在最后一个方向上。它将把英国电信研究所和位于Martlesham的Adastral Park的主要ICT和电信集群连接到量子通信中心正在建设的英国量子网络（UKQN）。这将使Adastral Park的公司与Hub合作伙伴之间实现新的直接合作，加速创新。它将为非常重要的电信行业的大型公司集群提供QKD和试验量子加密数据服务。它将利用Adastral Park的卓越设施，为量子技术提供重大的展示和演示活动。英国有很大的潜力成为新量子通信技术和服务竞技场的世界领导者-为个人，机构，企业和政府。除了开发技术外，至关重要的是尽早让所有最终用户参与进来，以产生“市场拉动力”。UKQNtel将为Adastral Park的电信和大型商业部门实现这种早期用户参与至关重要。这将补充布里斯托的消费者参与和剑桥科学园的中小企业参与，量子通信中心已经在追求。将所有这些放在一起将解决未来市场的整个范围的用户参与。

Quantum communications technologies are new, disruptive technologies that can outperform what we use today, by providing security based upon the laws of physics. Current prototypes employ quantum uncertainty and randomness for security, and next-generation technologies may well use the even weirder and counter-intuitive feature of entanglement. Information security is absolutely essential everywhere today - for individuals, institutions, businesses, governments and nations. Current secure communications systems have some vulnerabilities, some at risk now and others that may be exposed in the future, as computing power and hacking techniques improve. Secure communications based on quantum physics can eliminate some of these vulnerabilities, providing systems whose security is underpinned by the laws of Nature, for example providing for the secure distribution of cryptographic keys.Through EPSRC, the UK government is investing heavily in development across a spectrum of new quantum technologies, of which communications form a part. The Quantum Communications Hub is funded to develop current quantum key distribution (QKD) prototypes through to commercial readiness and to turn next-generation quantum communications demonstrations into prototype technologies. The aim is:- to develop short-range, low cost QKD for mobile devices such as 'phones;- to develop chip-scale QKD modules, for ease of manufacture and widespread and versatile deployment; - to investigate new directions in quantum communications, going beyond simple QKD, for example to quantum versions of digital signatures for signing electronic messages or documents;- to demonstrate QKD over networks and its integration with conventional communications.The new project UKQNtel builds on the last of these directions. It will connect BT Research and the major ICT and telecommunications cluster at Adastral Park, Martlesham, to the UK Quantum Network (UKQN) being built by the Quantum Communications Hub. This will enable new and direct collaborations between companies at Adastral Park and the Hub partners, accelerating innovation. It will offer QKD and trial quantum-encrypted data services to a large cluster of companies in the very important telecommunications sector. It will enable major Showcase and Demonstration events for quantum technologies, utilizing the outstanding facilities at Adastral Park.There is great potential for the UK to become a world-leader in the new quantum communications technologies and services arena - for individuals, institutions, businesses and government. In addition to the development of the technologies, it is vital to engage early across the whole spectrum of end-users, to generate "market pull". UKQNtel will crucially enable this early user engagement for the telecommunications and large business sector at Adastral Park. This will complement the consumer engagement in Bristol and the SME engagement on Cambridge Science Park already being pursued by the Quantum Communications Hub. Putting all this together will address user engagement for the whole spectrum of future markets.