Orca Computing is acquiring the integrated photonics division of Texas-based wireless technology company GXC.

GXC specializes in 5G connectivity and the division acquired by Orca has been providing advanced photonics solutions to US government entities such as Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed but the division’s team in Austin, Texas, will merge with Orca’s existing teams in London, UK.

“We are thrilled to welcome some of the best and brightest minds in integrated photonics to the Orca family,” said Richard Murray, co-founder, and CEO of Orca Computing. “With this acquisition, we continue our strong track record of success, pursuing and integrating cutting-edge components to deliver the very best technology to our customers.”

Founded in 2019 as a spin-out from Oxford University, Orca Computing is a UK-based photonic quantum computing company that uses optical fiber to build systems that do not need to be cryogenically cooled. In June 2022, in the same week the company closed a £12 million ($15 million) Series A funding round, the UK’s Ministry of Defence acquired a quantum computer from Orca.

To date, photonic computing systems have failed to take off due to challenges related to getting photons to interact in a quantum system as and when needed because processes that generate photon qubits are random. However, Orca claims to have found a way around the issue with its own 'quantum memory' that allows it to store and retrieve single photons on demand.