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model, BT has pledged to become a net zero carbon emissions of carbon – three times as much carbon as its own end-to-end
business by 2045 and has set targets in line with the most carbon emissions – achieving its 3:1 carbon abatement target
ambitious aim of the COP21 Paris Agreement - linking its targets one year early. For every tone of CO2 emitted by BT – three tones
to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Since 2016/17, BT has reduced of customer emissions were saved. BT’s commitment to reducing
the carbon emissions intensity of its operations by 42% and has its carbon intensity will help the UK Government meet its target of
reduced carbon emissions by 8% in its supply chain over the same net zero emissions by 2050 and is calling on other companies to
timeframe. Last year, BT helped its customers save 13m tones take similar measures and make similar commitments.

BT Teams Up with UK Quantum Tech Start-Ups to Trial World’s Most Secure
Fixed-Mobile Network Infrastructure for 5G And Connected Cars

BT has joined forces with high-tech Cambridge spin-out benefit from such ultra-secure connectivity in the future.” Dr.
Nu-Quantum, other UK start-ups, Research and Technology Carmen Palacios Berraquero, co-founder and CEO of Nu Quantum
Organizations (RTOs) and university partners, as part of a world- said: “In this project, we are basically creating the architecture for
first trial of end-to-end quantum-secured communications for a whole new quantum-telecommunication industry, with a supply
5G and connected cars. The AIRQKD trial combines BT’s globally chain running from component manufacture through to end user.
leading expertise in building quantum-secure networks using QKD At Nu Quantum we have the unique ability to use the smallest
(Quantum Key Distribution – an essentially un-hackable, cutting packets of light, making the most of quantum mechanics and the
edge technique for sharing encryption ‘keys’ between locations security advantage it can give us. This 3-year partnership with BT
using a stream of single photons) with other new techniques and others across the UK is an important step taking quantum
for applying quantum security to mobile devices, developed by out of the lab and into our networks.” Roger McKinlay, Challenge
UK start-ups Nu Quantum, Angoka and Duality. The trial, which Director for the UK Quantum Technologies Challenge, said: “This
will run for 36 months, is funded with £7.7M by the Quantum investment is part of a wider package delivered by The National
Technologies Challenge, led by UK Research and Innovation. It Quantum Technologies Program, which is set to make a £1 billion
will for the first time combine Quantum Key Distribution over fixed investment over its life-time. This is ground-breaking technology
fiber and free-space networks (point-to-point laser connections but also commercially important, the close collaboration between
between cell sites), with quantum-enhanced security chips in the parties accelerating the establishment of a UK supply chain.”
mobile devices. In combination, these technologies will be used AIRQKD is an Innovate UK funded project involving the following
to deliver an ultra-secure link between connected 5G towers and partners: BT, Lexden Technologies, OLC, Duality, Bristol University,
mobile devices, as well as to connected cars, in conjunction with Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, Strathclyde University,
the Warwick Manufacturing Group at Warwick University. The Warwick University Manufacturing Group, Bay Photonics, Heriot
new trial builds upon BT’s current fiber-based testbed for QKD, Watt University, Angoka, ArQit, Nu Quantum, National Physical
which runs between Cambridge and the BT Labs at Adastral Park, Laboratory, CSA Catapult, Edinburgh University.
Suffolk. It will pave the way for the development of a wide range
of quantum-secured use-cases, for applications where ultra-
security of data transfer is especially important. Cambridge-based
Nu Quantum, one of the UK’s newest quantum technology start-
ups, will be the provider of quantum components: small modules
capable of manipulating the faintest light signals (single photons
of light) to generate and communicate absolutely secure quantum
encryption keys. Other partners include Belfast-based Angoka,
Bristol’s Duality Quantum Photonics and London-based Arqit; all
cutting-edge start-ups specializing in the new field of Quantum
tech, in which the UK is increasingly seen as taking an early lead.
Professor Andrew Lord, BT’s head of optical network research,
said: “The UK has firmly established itself as a global leader in
quantum-based network security. With the AIRQKD trial, we’re
delighted to be taking this to the next level and combining multiple
quantum technologies from innovative UK start-ups to build the
world’s most secure fixed-mobile communications link. Connected
cars are only one of the possible range of applications that will

29 NOVEMBER 2020