OptQC Corp. and NTT, Inc. have signed a capital and business alliance to accelerate the development, commercialization and real-world deployment of a fault-tolerant, one-million-qubit-class optical quantum computer, the Tokyo-based partners announced on August 3, 2026.
NTT takes strategic stake in OptQC
NTT plans to invest directly in OptQC through the alliance, moving what had been a research collaboration signed in November 2025 into a joint commercialization program. The deal covers research and development, use-case development with prospective enterprise users, supply-chain build-out, and system integration for real-world implementation. NTT contributes decades of expertise in optical amplification, optical multiplexing, data centers and its Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) initiative, alongside OptQC’s photonic quantum computing platform originating from 25 years of research at the University of Tokyo.
Roadmap targets fault-tolerant, million-qubit machine by 2030
The companies also entered a joint research agreement running through fiscal 2027 that will design the architecture and key component technologies for a one-million-qubit-class system, including scaling qubit count via wavelength-division multiplexing. A 10,000-qubit-class system is planned for FY2027 with proof-of-concept projects with users starting in FY2028, followed by software-platform development and expanded verification in FY2029. Practical applications targeted include finance, manufacturing optimization, medicine, materials development and energy.
Optical quantum lines up alongside gate and annealing platforms
OptQC operates its first optical quantum computer, “MoQuren,” at AIST’s Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology. NTT recently opened a dedicated optical-quantum R&D hub at its Atsugi R&D Center. The alliance lands the same day as the D-Wave / Nasdaq Verafin quantum crime-detection deal and reinforces a busy week for quantum industrialization that also included the Fujitsu / Monash / CSIRO Australia–Japan MoU.
“By combining OptQC’s optical quantum computing technologies with NTT’s expertise in optical communications, networks, data centers and IOWN, we aim to accelerate the practical application and commercialization of optical quantum computers,” the companies said in a joint statement.
Reporting based on coverage from The Quantum Insider, Quantum Computing Report and HPCwire.