Toshiba Corporation and LQUOM Inc. have entered into a joint research agreement to study the extension of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) ranges using quantum repeater technology. The project, scheduled to run from March 2026 to March 2027, focuses on evaluating the technical feasibility of integrating Toshiba’s QKD systems with LQUOM’s quantum repeater architectures. This collaboration is intended to address the transmission distance limitations of current fiber-optic quantum communications, a necessary step toward the development of large-scale quantum networks and the eventual “quantum internet.”
The research will specifically analyze the optimal combinations of QKD protocols and repeater designs from both performance and implementation perspectives. Toshiba is tasked with studying QKD architectures and protocols, leveraging its research history in high-speed key distribution dating back to 1999. LQUOM, a startup originating from Yokohama National University, will focus on entanglement-based quantum repeater system architectures. These repeaters are designed to relay quantum states over long distances without the degradation associated with standard fiber loss, enabling secure transmission without the need for trusted nodes.
This partnership builds upon a strategic relationship established in 2023 when Toshiba invested in LQUOM via its corporate venture capital arm. By combining Toshiba’s commercially deployed QKD technology with LQUOM’s specialized focus on entanglement sources and repeater nodes, the project aims to establish technical foundations for next-generation information infrastructure. The findings are expected to support the social implementation of quantum-secure communications in fields such as healthcare, finance, and energy, where long-distance data-center-to-data-center security is a priority.
For the complete details on the joint research agreement and the organizations’ technical roadmaps, consult the official Toshiba press release here.
March 28, 2026
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