GMV Secures GBP 2 Million Contract for Quantum-Enabled White Rabbit Switch to Safeguard UK Infrastructure

GMV Secures GBP 2 Million Contract for Quantum-Enabled White Rabbit Switch to Safeguard UK Infrastructure
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Aug 10, 2024
GMV has been awarded a GBP 2 million contract by Innovate UK to develop the White Rabbit Switch, an advanced hardware solution designed for fiber-optic time distribution. This technology is crucial for enhancing the resilience of the UK's infrastructure. The project is part of Innovate UK's quantum-enabled positioning, navigation, and timing competition. GMV will spearhead the development, collaborating with UK-based clock manufacturer IQD, and will join the newly established White Rabbit Collaboration, initiated by CERN.

The contract will enable GMV to produce a UK sovereign time distribution product, ensuring long-term domestic supply and reducing reliance on vulnerable satellite signals. The new product is also expected to have significant export potential, addressing global needs for reliable time synchronization and replacing technologies that currently depend on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems).

The White Rabbit Switch will incorporate time distribution and synchronization technology developed through a joint effort led by CERN. It will feature state-of-the-art quantum clock technology, providing assured and resilient time for critical applications.

Mark Dumville, CEO of GMV UK, commented, "GMV is committed to developing a portfolio of innovative products and services to ensure the UK is protected from loss of GNSS. The development team at GMV looks forward to working with IUK and our industrial partners IQD and Zyxt to distribute Quantum-enabled time across UK infrastructures to ensure continuity of critical services without disruption or degradation during periods of complete loss of GNSS."

Roger McKinlay, Challenge Director for Quantum Technologies at Innovate UK, added, "In the Challenge we have been keen to fund activities across the supply chain and I am delighted to be funding a project which integrates quantum technology into a capable product from an important supplier. GMV clearly can exert the 'technology pull' we have wanted to incorporate in our portfolio from the outset and which is essential for the adoption of quantum technologies."

Javier Serrano, Chair of the White Rabbit Collaboration Board and co-inventor of the technology at CERN, said, "We very much look forward to working with GMV and IQD to deliver the new White Rabbit Switch with enhanced holdover capabilities. It's great to have them on board, as founding members of the White Rabbit Collaboration, an initiative created to support the uptake by industry of the WR technology and foster its impact in society."