Orange & Toshiba Launch France’s 1st Quantum-Safe Net
Orange Business, the enterprise arm of the Orange Group, has joined forces with Toshiba Europe to introduce the first commercially available quantum-safe networking service in France.
Known as Orange Quantum Defender, the service has gone live in the greater Paris region and represents a significant step in defending enterprise communications against the looming cyber threat posed by quantum computing.
The new solution combines cutting-edge Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology with Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC), offering a defence-in-depth strategy.
With quantum computing poised to render today’s encryption methods obsolete, the partnership positions Orange and Toshiba at the forefront of secure communications for the digital economy.
Delivering quantum-resilient infrastructure today
Deployed over Orange’s existing fibre network in Paris, Orange Quantum Defender leverages Toshiba’s proven QKD technology to secure data against both current and future threats.
The solution is already operational, with a leading French financial services firm connecting multiple sites to the network. It now benefits from resilient, high-speed infrastructure fortified against quantum-enabled cyberattacks.
Quantum computers are anticipated to break traditional public key cryptography, placing enterprises in trust-sensitive sectors like finance, healthcare, the public sector and critical infrastructure at significant risk.
Many of these organisations face the threat of “store now, decrypt later” attacks, in which malicious actors intercept and store encrypted data today, intending to decode it in the future when quantum computing becomes accessible. The urgency to act now is paramount.
A future-proof approach to cybersecurity
At the core of this commercial rollout is a multi-layered security model. Hardware-based QKD ensures the secure generation and distribution of cryptographic keys, while PQC adds a software-based layer of resilience.
The dual approach guarantees long-term data protection and enables enterprises to future-proof their security posture.
Aliette Mousnier-Lompré, CEO of Orange Business, stated, “We are thrilled to launch Orange Quantum Defender, a first–of–its–kind service in France.
“This is a significant step in the Orange multi-layer quantum-safe networking strategy, as we help our enterprise customers respond to the growing and evolving security threats from quantum computing.
"Built on the robust technology by Toshiba, we are not just protecting sensitive data today; we are prepared and ready to partner with our customers for a secure and resilient future.”
Orange Business brings deep expertise in secure digital transformation to the table. With 30,000 employees across 65 countries and more than 30,000 B2B clients worldwide, it integrates next-generation connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity solutions to support business growth and continuity.
Years of collaboration delivering a commercial first
The launch marks the culmination of a longstanding collaboration between Orange and Toshiba. The partners have worked extensively to test and validate QKD technology across existing fibre networks, ensuring it can operate alongside conventional data traffic and deliver high secret key rates over long distances.
Their work has demonstrated the practical viability of QKD in real-world commercial settings, effectively removing adoption barriers for enterprises.
“The quantum age isn’t just some fringe concept anymore and large organisations are on the frontline when it comes to the dangers posed by powerful quantum computers.
“We have been collaborating with Orange for several years to validate QKD technology performance across existing fibre networks. I’m excited to jointly launch the first commercial solution that can deliver a quantum-safe future for organisations in Paris.”
Beyond enhancing business security, the launch of Orange Quantum Defender contributes to France’s national quantum strategy by embedding quantum resilience into commercial infrastructure.
As quantum capabilities evolve, the joint innovation highlights the importance of proactively safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining stakeholder trust.
In delivering the first commercial quantum-safe network in France, Orange Business and Toshiba offer enterprises security and the confidence to innovate securely in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
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