From News Desk
NTT and OptQC have signed a collaboration agreement to realise scalable optical quantum computers. Under this agreement, the two companies will apply advanced optical communication technologies—such as optical amplification and multiplexing—to the development of optical quantum computers. By doing so, they aim to accelerate the practical realization of large-scale optical quantum computers capable of addressing complex social challenges, with a goal of achieving one million quantum bits by 2030.
Quantum computers are increasingly expected to tackle complex problems that require enormous computation time on conventional systems—such as drug discovery, new material design, financial optimisation and climate change prediction. However, current quantum computers are extremely sensitive; even slight noise or fluctuations can disturb quantum states and lead to incorrect results. To achieve practical realisation, it is essential to generate one million physical qubits and reliably create and control thousands of logical qubits using error correction technology.
While various quantum computing approaches are being researched worldwide, most require special environments such as ultra-low temperatures or vacuum conditions, posing significant technical challenges for practical use. In this context, “optical quantum computers” which leverage the properties of light, are gaining attention as a new approach that operates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure with low power consumption.
Under the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) initiative, NTT has been advancing research and development of optical communication technologies—including optical amplification and multiplexing, which can serve as quantum light sources—as well as error correction technologies expected to be applied in the quantum domain. Some of these technologies have already been applied to optical quantum computers.
OptQC is a startup founded on 25 years of optical quantum computing research at the University of Tokyo.
NTT and OptQC will conduct joint studies over the next five years. In the first year, they will initiate technical investigations and foster partnerships with organisations that support this initiative to develop use cases. In the second year, they will establish a development environment and in the third year, they will carry out use case verification. By 2030, NTT and OptQC aim to realize an optical quantum computer with one million qubits and develop applications that help address social challenges.
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