Photonic and TELUS Achieve ‘Quantum Teleportation’ Milestone

Vancouver’s Photonic is partnering with neighbour TELUS.

The quantum computing technology company is working with the telecommunications giant to pursue quantum-secure networking capabilities and deliver “solutions that will provide social and economic value and transform industries worldwide.”

As a first demonstration of this collaboration, Photonic and TELUS say that they have achieved a “significant technical milestone,” which provides evidence that TELUS’ existing fibre optic infrastructure can reliably carry quantum information.

“The successful demonstration of Photonic’s quantum teleportation on TELUS’ PureFibre is groundbreaking,” says Paul Terry, chief executive officer of Photonic.

Using Photonic’s Entanglement First architecture, a novel approach that combines silicon-based qubits and native telecom band photonic connectivity, the firms teleported information into a matter‑based quantum processor that can retain, store, and use that information.

“This critical milestone shows the value of industry leaders working together to accelerate Canada’s leadership in quantum computing and networking,” Terry said.

Building on a 2024 partnership, the new collaboration covers an expanded set of projects at the intersection of Photonic’s distributed quantum computing and networking technologies and TELUS’ PureFibre telecommunications network.

“This is just the beginning of real-world impacts we will jointly deliver,” stated Terry.

Nazim Benhadid, Chief Technology Officer at TELUS, says the company is “committed to developing cutting-edge technologies that will support a secure and connected future in Canada.”

The recent demonstration of quantum potential has “set the stage for our collaboration to deliver technology that contributes to building a secure, resilient, and connected future for Canada,” according to Benhadid.

Terry Doyle, Managing Partner at TELUS Global Ventures, believes the technology carries the “potential to fundamentally redefine secure telecommunications infrastructure on a global scale.”

Photonic last month raised $180 million as the company pushes toward commercialization.

TELUS, no stranger to quantum technology, participated in the round alongside Planet First Partners and the Royal Bank of Canada.

Photonic, which has raised a total of nearly $400M, has worked on both the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative and the Canadian Department of National Defence’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security NORAD Modernization Science and Technology Contest.