BT and Toshiba deploy unhackable quantum-encrypted fiber The promise of quantum cryptography has been exploited in the field for the first time in the UK through deployment of a six kilometer length of quantum-encrypted fiber optic cable by BT and Toshiba. This is being used for sharing encryption ‘keys’ between industrial locations using a stream of single photons, the smallest units of light, or of electromagnetic energy in general. This uses QKD (Quantum Key Distribution), which allows two parties to transmit a randomly generated secret key between them such that any attempt by a third party to eavesdrop on the route would be detected. The idea then is not to prevent eavesdropping occurring but to be sure that if it…