SK Telecom announced that it has achieved a meaningful milestone in the field of quantum cryptography technologies by developing a quantum repeater, known as Trusted Repeater.
The quantum repeater that can dramatically extend the distance of quantum communication, and successfully testing its performance over a trial optical fiber network deployed between Bundang, Yongin and Suwon.
The quantum cryptography communication is known as the most secure form of communication encryption that cannot be broken with any existing hacking technology. Quantum cryptography is expected to replace the existing security solutions in all areas at risk of data hacking, including national defense, finance, autonomous vehicle and the Internet of Things (IoT).
With Trusted Repeater, SK Telecom claims that it has extended the distance record for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to 112 kilometers. Prior to the development of this quantum repeater, the maximum transmission distance of QKD remained at around 80 kilometers due to the fact that it involves the use of weak single-photon quantum signals.
Therefore, the distance limitation of QKD had been viewed as the biggest obstacle to its commercialization and actual deployment.
Park Jinohyo, SVP and Head of Network Technology R&D Center, SK Telecom
SK Telecom has opened a new chapter in the field of quantum technologies by developing the Trusted Repeater, an enabler for long-distance quantum communication.
