Today is World Quantum Day*, at least that’s according to a group of scientists who have been using the date since 2022 to publicise understanding of public science.
Economist Impact, which is organising its annual Commercialising Quantum Global Summit in London in May, used the day to release results of a survey it conducted which found that 83% of “quantum professionals” that it surveyed think that quantum utility – the point when quantum computers will overcome hardware and error correction challenges to perform better than classical computers – will be realised within ten years or fewer.
That will have an impact on the communications sector, which is already coming to terms with a post-quantum security scenario, in which its current means of encrypting networks and traffic will come under threat from the new computational power of quantum computing.
The Economist survey listed communications networks as one of the earliest likely use cases, alongside drug discovery and materials science (62%), with BT and Signal already introducing quantum-safe cryptography into their operations.
Quantum and pre-processing safer in space?
Today Partisia, a provider of multiparty computation (MPC) technology, Squareroot8, a provider of quantum-safe communication solutions, and IoT Connectivity and Satellite-as-a-Service company NuSpace announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate quantum-safe cryptography with satellites.
The partnership aims to deliver a fully quantum-proof solution using a satellite to provide encrypted correlated randomness to perform Multi-Party Computation (MPC). They say QRNG-equipped satellites can provide a trusted, quantum-secure environment for faster and safer cryptographic computations. The companies said the advantage of using a satellite is that they are difficult to physically access, unlike hardware servers on the ground.
“By integrating quantum-safe cryptography with QRNG-equipped satellites, this partnership delivers a revolutionary solution for secure communication and multiparty computation – ensuring privacy, efficiency, and quantum-proof security for the future of data processing,” Mark Medum Bundgaard, Chief Product Officer at Partisia, said.
A satellite equipped with a QRNG (Quantum Random Number Generator) generates a random key and securely sends it to two parties, allowing them to communicate privately. The satellite never sees the actual data – it only generates random preprocessed values.
Beyond secure communication, the satellite can also preprocess data for Multiparty Computation (MPC). Preprocessing is the initial stage of data processing, where raw data is prepared for analysis. It improves efficiency, accuracy, and security in various applications, including cryptography and machine learning.
MPC calculations often require specific secret values that must remain private. Instead of generating these values during computation, random values can be pre-computed and stored. Later, when real inputs arrive, the preprocessed data speeds up the final calculation. A quantum-proof machine could generate preprocessed “false” numbers. When real data needs to be processed, these false numbers could be combined with the real ones for faster calculations, reducing processing time by up to 80%.
For example, in some MPC protocols, preprocessing can take 6 days and 23 hours, while the actual computation only takes 1 hour. This is because most of the data exchange happens during preprocessing. If a secure satellite continuously generates and stores these values, the entire process becomes much more efficient, according to the companies involved.
“Preprocessing with QRNG-equipped satellites transforms secure computation by drastically reducing processing time, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring quantum-safe security – leveraging space as the ultimate trusted environment for data privacy and cryptographic advances.” says Dr. Goh Koon Tong, Chief Technologist & Co-Founder from Squareroot8 Technologies.
Arqit also making progress
Arqit Quantum, which provides quantum-safe encryption, said that it has signed a test and integration licence with RSG Telecom (RSG) for its public and private sector networks. Arqit’s NetworkSecure quantum-safe encryption solution will be deployed across RSG telecom infrastructures, enhancing data protection.
Arqit’s symmetric key agreement technology (SKA-Platform) will be used to protect RSG’s clients from cybercriminals, hackers, and nation-state actors.
Andy Leaver, CEO of Arqit, commented: “Today’s cyber landscape is more complex and dynamic than ever before. By implementing Arqit’s NetworkSecure RSG is safeguarding their partners and customers from the next wave of cyber threats, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of their customers’ communications.”
Arqit Quantum also said last week that a different “global tier 1 telco operator” has signed a three year contract for NetworkSecure. The telco operates in 32 countries with a backbone spanning over 600,000 km of fiber.
Arqit’s Quantum-Safe NetworkSecure technology will be deployed as part of its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) suite.
The telco’s customers can order Quantum-Safe over Internet (QSI) service and as demand for the operator’s offering scales, Arqit sees potential for expansion beyond this initial contract.
Leaver commented: “This multi-year agreement represents a major step forward in protecting global communications from emerging threats. As quantum computing advances, the need for robust security solutions is paramount. Our customer’s leadership position in global networking, combined with Arqit’s pioneering quantum-safe encryption, ensures enterprises can access next-generation security with the agility of a NaaS framework. We are excited to help bring this technology to market at scale.”
Comments
0