HKT Partners with Fortinet to Introduce High-Performance 100G Managed Network Services

As the global economy accelerates towards a hyperconnected future, quantum technology and computing are rapidly evolving. Businesses face unprecedented challenges in network deployment, with customer data, intellectual property, and financial records remaining prime targets for cyber attackers. Moreover, hackers increasingly adopt a Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) approach, stealing data now to decrypt it in the future once quantum capabilities mature—posing significant financial and reputational risks to enterprises.

 

To address these threats, HKT has partnered with Fortinet to introduce a 100G encrypted network managed service that combines high speed, flexibility, and security, enabling Hong Kong enterprises to advance into the quantum-safe era.

Meeting Enterprises' Cross-Boundary Needs

With enterprises increasingly reliant on cloud platforms, cross-boundary data flows, and AI-driven analytics, network security demands have become more complex. Steve Ng, Managing Director of Commercial Group at HKT, stated, "HKT offers a comprehensive suite of network managed services, including encrypted CE2.0 networks, encrypted SD-WAN, and advanced firewall management, which have now been upgraded with quantum-safe capabilities and support transmission speeds up to 100G."

 

He added, "Our services extend across Mainland China and major global cities with Points of Presence (PoPs), delivering end-to-end and end-to-multipoint quantum-safe solutions. Customers can thus enjoy stable and reliable connectivity from anywhere."

Encryption Methods Align with International Standards

As enterprises’ demands for computing speed and bandwidth intensify, HKT’s 100G infrastructure is designed for bandwidth-intensive workloads, delivering high-speed and flexible connectivity. It also provides proactive monitoring, threat visibility, and compliance support through dedicated service management.

 

Ricky Kwong, Head of Network Planning and Operations, Engineering, and CEO, Fibre Link Global at HKT, remarked, "HKT delivers various network services and infrastructure, including the highly resilient and scalable CE2.0 network, supporting Gigabit Ethernet bandwidth from 10G to 100G, and even catering to the 800G AI Superhighway needs of artificial intelligence and supercomputing, meeting enterprises' high bandwidth demands. Businesses no longer face bandwidth bottlenecks that could impede long-term development. In addition, to protect enterprises against quantum threats, HKT has integrated quantum-safe solutions into its encrypted network hosting service, with encryption methods conforming to emerging international standards."

Combining Advanced Connectivity with Cybersecurity Innovation

HKT has maintained close collaboration with Fortinet. Their flagship FortiGate 4200F firewall is equipped with the seventh-generation NP7 network processor. With NP7 hardware acceleration, the FortiGate 4200F delivers protection against quantum decryption  at 100G without performance trade-offs. It supports multiple post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms and quantum key distribution, ensuring secure and high-speed transmission of critical business data.

 

HKT and Fortinet are partnering to construct proactive defence mechanisms for Hong Kong's financial services, government, public, and retail sectors. Cherry Fung, Senior Regional Director of North Asia at Fortinet, commented, "As quantum computing matures, traditional encryption methods face increasing risk of being compromised. We are further integrating AI-driven threat detection and automated defence into the managed services, assisting enterprises in building secure, flexible, and high-performance networks to embrace the quantum era."

 

By combining advanced connectivity with next-generation security technologies, HKT and Fortinet are accelerating the adoption of quantum-safe solutions and digital transformation across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Looking ahead, both parties will continue to deepen collaboration to help enterprises build forward-looking cybersecurity foundations ahead of the quantum age.

 

Source: Wepro180