Singtel picks Cisco, Fortinet and Nokia to build quantum-safe solutions

Singtel signed three Memoranda of Understanding with industry leaders, Cisco, Fortinet, and Nokia, to provide quantum security solutions to enterprises through its Quantum Safe Network (QSN).

With this collaboration, enterprises can tap on Cisco's routing platform, Fortinet's firewalls and Nokia's optical devices to boost their defences against advanced cyber threats. These solutions utilise quantum key distribution, which is a secure method for distributing encryption keys only known between shared parties, from Singtel’s QSN and can be easily integrated into the enterprises’ existing network and security infrastructure.

The collaborations follow Singtel’s appointment last year by the Infocomm Media Development Authority to develop Singapore’s first nationwide QSN by mid-2024, together with global quantum cybersecurity leader, ID Quantique. This is a national strategic initiative aimed at fortifying Singapore’s resilience against quantum threats in the next decade.

Lim Seng Kong, Managing Director of Enterprise, Singtel Singapore, said: “The task of building a nationwide QSN requires close collaboration between telcos, IT, and technology leaders. We are bringing together global leaders in their fields to bolster our ecosystem of quantum-safe solutions so enterprises can better optimise their investments, solve complex problems, innovate and scale with ease. The evolving nature of cyber threats also necessitates that we continuously update our security posture. We welcome the industry to join us on this journey as we prepare for the quantum age.”

“Secure connectivity is foundational to any digitalisation effort today. As technology continues to evolve at breakneck pace, it is critical for businesses to innovate with the latest secure connectivity building blocks to stay one step ahead of malicious actors,” said Tay Bee Kheng, President, Cisco ASEAN. “As the company that built the foundations of the internet, we are delighted to collaborate with Singtel and its ecosystem of partners to power the next-generation of quantum-safe connectivity for businesses. We look forward to seeing enterprises scale their business with Singapore’s first QSN.”

Vishak Raman, Vice President, Sales, India, SEA & ANZ, Fortinet, said, “Quantum computing poses new challenges to cybersecurity, and it is imperative that we stay ahead of the curve. Our collaboration with Singtel underscores our commitment to delivering innovative and quantum-safe solutions and is a significant step towards securing the digital economy in the quantum age. By providing the advanced firewall technology to power Singtel’s QSN, we are ensuring that our customers' networks are resilient against both current and future threats that may arise from quantum computing advancements”.

Vito Di Maria, Vice President of Optical Networks, Asia Pacific Business Centre, Nokia, said: “Nokia is delighted to participate in this strategic collaboration with Singtel to develop quantum-safe solutions for enterprises. The Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Switch, powered by its sixth-generation super-coherent PSE-6s, with built-in capabilities enabling high-speed scalability up to 2.4Tbs, lowest latency, best power efficiency and quantum-safe encryption, serves as the cornerstone for secure networks across subsea, long haul, regional, metro, and data center interconnect, ensuring the resilience of businesses against emerging cyber-threats. Together, we are shaping the future of quantum-safe connectivity.”

Singtel’s Quantum-Safe Network is part of its domestic network offerings which are built and engineered to secure business-critical data and provide enhanced security for the data network and flexibility as a managed service. Singtel is also working with government agencies such as HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency) to develop and test quantum-safe network use cases. For more information, visit Singtel Quantum-Safe Network.