Toshiba breaks secure technology record

The Toshiba research team, Toshiba Research Europe Limited, Cambridge, UK, have broken the distance record - over 100km of optical fibre - for the only unhackable form of communications called quantum cryptography, proving the broad commercial potential of the technology.

Future development of the system will now be partially funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The focus of the DTI initiative, which also involves the University of Cambridge and Imperial College, London, will be to realise a quantum cryptography system that is secure from every type of hacking.

Potential users of quantum cryptography include any organisation using IT and communications technology to send, receive and store sensitive information - from banks and retailers to central and local Government organisations.