Industrial standards are essential for new technologies, services and markets. Standards provide end-user confidence in devices and systems, ensure the interoperability of equipment and protocols in complex systems, and stimulate supply chains for components, systems and applications, for example through the definition of common interfaces and platforms.
In order for quantum communications technologies to continue to be commercialised and become fully integrated into current communications infrastructure, development of industry-wide standards is crucial.
The Quantum Communications Hub is at the forefront of this effort, working to support and develop documented standards for quantum communications technologies, through partners such as the National Physical Laboratory and Toshiba Europe Limited. Both are members of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Industry Specification Group for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The group is working to establish standards, interfaces, specifications and component characteristics for QKD systems and related technologies.
