LONDON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- AboveNet's Fibre-Optic Network in London to be Used for In-Depth
Validation Trials

AboveNet, a leading provider of fibre optic and IP connectivity solutions
for business and carriers, and QinetiQ, the defence, security and technology
company, have announced a strategic partnership that will exploit an advanced
cryptography solution to provide strong network security for communications.
This solution aims to make quantum cryptography a reality across optical
networks.

Operating QinetiQ's quantum-based security over AboveNet's dedicated
fibre optic network in London will offer an extremely secure way for
governments, financial institutions and organisations with high security
requirements, to transfer confidential information and sensitive data. With
the number and variety of security threats increasing every day, QinetiQ's
security solution will significantly strengthen the management of the network
security in a practical manner. Strong management of the encryption codes to
prevent insider and external theft or hacking ensure that the costs
associated with recovery and disruption to businesses are minimised.

The quantum technique at the heart of QinetiQ's network security solution
enables the dynamic re-coding of equipment across a network topology. The
technique exploits the complex quantum world, where light transmitting along
optical fibres actually consists of many quantum particles called photons.
Information is encoded onto properties of the photon such that if an
eavesdropper attempts to steal the photon's information, system performance
is disturbed and an alarm is triggered. When combined with other
cryptographic techniques the network solution provides the highest forward
and backward security with strong and dynamic access management.

"We are taking quantum cryptography out of the research lab and into
practical commercial applications. We are moving from simple point to point
demonstrations to a network solution that will be secure, scalable, flexible,
dynamic and most importantly, is applicable to standard network topologies."
added Magnus McEwen-King, of QinetiQ Ventures. "As the technology becomes
market-ready, AboveNet is well placed to help us roll out quantum-based
security solutions to its current and future customer base and address global
telecoms network security applications. Next generation broadband networks
rely on widespread rollout of fibre connectivity and our quantum cryptography
project is designing the next generation of data network security to support
this."

"With fibre already considered to be one of the most secure mediums to
transport data, Quantum cryptography will enable the most cutting-edge
security encryption for fibre connectivity - the standard for next-generation
networks," commented John Donaldson, managing director at AboveNet. "Once
proven in London, it has the potential to protect the nation's data from
security threats, now and in the future. It's exciting to be making that
level of security a reality."

NOTES TO EDITORS

About AboveNet, Inc.

AboveNet, provides high bandwidth connectivity solutions for enterprise
customers and carriers. Its private optical network delivers key network and
IP services in and among 15 top U.S. metro markets and London. AboveNet's
network is widely used in demanding markets such as financial services and
media.UK Headquarters: Centurion House, 24 Monument Street, London, EC3R 8AJ

For more information, please visit: http://www.above.net

About QinetiQ

QinetiQ (pronounced "kinetic") is a leading international defence and
security technology company with over 8,000 employees in EMEA (Europe, Middle
East and Australasia) and more than 5,500 in North America.

QinetiQ's vision is to be the world's leading provider of defence and
security based technology solutions and services.

In February 2006, QinetiQ Group plc was listed on the London Stock
Exchange and joined the FTSE250 in June 2006. In the year to 31 March 2008,
QinetiQ delivered a 19 per cent increase in revenue to GBP1,366m, including
organic growth of 8.6 per cent, and a 20 per cent increase in underlying
operating profit to GBP127m. Underlying earnings per share increased by 19%
to 13.4p per share.

http://www.qinetiq.com

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    or

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    clscotter@qinetiq.com