Quantum Xchange has been working to apply quantum mechanics to cybersecurity efforts for commercial enterprises and government agencies. After announcing a $10 million funding round earlier this year led by Boston-based New Technology Ventures, the company has selected a group to deploy its first fiber network.

What is a quantum-secured network and why is it important, you ask? In June, Quantum Exchange created a fiberoptic network called Phio to transmit and receive quantum cryptographic keys between entities that are securely transferring critical data. The company is able to achieve this through a secure communication method called Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), that allows two parties to create a secret key only known to them that can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.

Quantum computing is still in its early days but Quantum Xchange wants to get ahead of the curve by using quantum computing to secure data from cyber attacks, and this new partnership is one step closer to doing that.

OK, back to the news of the day.

Quantum Xchange selected Zayo Group, a communications infrastructure provider, as its first strategic partner. The agreement will provide access to almost 500 miles of fiber along the eastern seaboard, which will be used to activate the initial leg of the nation’s first quantum network.