Optical Quantum Computing Development: NTT And OptQC Plot Roadmap To Scale Technologies By 2030

NTT Inc. and OptQC Corporation have joined forces to advance optical quantum computing systems, with the collaboration targeting substantial milestones in the coming years. The two companies unveiled their strategic partnership to build practical, scalable optical quantum computers operating at room temperature—a significant technical achievement that distinguishes optical approaches from conventional quantum computing methods.

Technical Foundation And Optical Advantages

Unlike traditional quantum systems that rely on superconducting circuits, optical quantum computers leverage light as the primary information carrier. This fundamental difference offers potential advantages in terms of operating temperature and stability. OptQC has focused its development efforts on room-temperature optical quantum computing platforms, while NTT brings decades of telecommunications infrastructure expertise to the partnership.

The collaboration will leverage NTT’s technological assets developed through the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) Initiative, specifically quantum error correction methodologies and optical communication technologies. These components are critical for constructing reliable quantum systems capable of handling real-world computational challenges.

Scaling Milestones And Performance Targets

The partnership has established concrete development targets to demonstrate progress. By 2027, the companies plan to achieve 10,000 qubits—logical qubits that represent functional units of quantum information combining multiple physical qubits. The longer-term vision extends to reaching one million quantum bits by 2030, representing a substantial engineering challenge that would position optical quantum computing closer to practical applications.

Enabling Technologies In Focus

Two optical technologies form the technical backbone of this initiative. Optical amplification technology strengthens weak light signals across extended distances, enabling quantum information to travel reliably through optical channels. In quantum computing applications, this translates to delivering stable light that preserves quantum states necessary for large-scale computation.

Optical multiplexing technology allows simultaneous transmission of multiple optical signals through a single communication channel, improving system efficiency and scalability. Both technologies address fundamental constraints in scaling quantum systems.

Commercial Applications And Supply Chain Development

Through this partnership, NTT and OptQC aim to identify practical use cases, develop quantum algorithms suited to optical platforms, and construct supply chains supporting commercialization. These efforts target applications addressing complex societal challenges where quantum computing advantages become apparent—domains spanning drug discovery, materials science, and optimization problems resistant to classical computing approaches.

NTT’s stock traded at $24.41 on the NYSE on Monday, down 0.08 percent from the previous close.