MONTREAL — Non-profit organization Numana (formerly TechnoMontréal), which describes itself as “a catalyst for technology ecosystems”, announced today the launch of a fibre-optic quantum telecommunications network that will serve as an open test bed for industry and researchers.
The $3.75 million project is supported by Bell and the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation, which has made a $2.5 million financial contribution to the project.
“In collaboration with the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone, the project will be launched initially in Sherbrooke in early fall 2022. Subsequent networks are planned for Montreal and Quebec City, in order to gradually deploy a province-wide infrastructure linking the complementary expertise of the entire Quebec quantum ecosystem,” a press release explains.
The initiative is intended “to equip Quebec with the capacity to develop products, applications and services created by industrial developers and university researchers,” the release says.
“With its unparalleled computational speed and ultra-fast probability evaluation approach, Quantum computing will process exponentially more data than traditional computational models to determine an optimal solution,” the release reads.
“As part of this quantum infrastructure project, quantum communication protocols will help protect the growing volume of digitally transmitted, confidential corporate and personal data, such as health records and financial transactions. This communication method, which is impossible to decrypt or intercept without detection, is the foundation of a future, ultra-secure quantum Internet. Through this world-class test bed, Quebec can capitalize on this playing field to develop solutions.”
“Numana is pleased to announce the launch of the quantum telecommunications infrastructure that will kick off with the Sherbrooke Quantum Innovation Zone, in partnership with Bell,” said François Borrelli, president and CEO of Numana, in the press release.
“With this project, our ambition is to accelerate quantum technology in Quebec, and help the industry develop leading-edge products to transform the province into a true global leader in quantum communications. This project aligns with Numana’s new positioning as a technology think tank which analyzes disruptive technologies and conducts field projects to test them and accelerate their adoption,” Borrelli said.
“Bell is very pleased to collaborate with Numana and the Quebec Government in the development of a made-in-Quebec quantum infrastructure,” said Nicholas Payant, vice-president of operations and main network at Bell.
“In addition to its financial involvement, Bell is making its powerful and robust network available to industry experts, providing the ecosystem with the foundation required to pursue applied research.”
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