A consortium led by SK Telecom began experimenting quantum cryptography communications in five different national test networks in Korea.
SK Telecom claims that the Quantum Cryptography System, developed since 2011, is the most secure encryption method that uses quantum physics instead of mathematics-based encryption algorithms being used today. That is, it securely distributes a secret key to legitimate parties. Here, a key is a table of random numbers shared by legitimate users in such a way that the information is known only to them, and secure means secure against any possible eavesdropping, which is the highest level of security. The system is expected to enhance security of critical network infrastructure.
With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) in an increasingly connected world, quantum cryptography technology is being highlighted as a possible solution to a whole new set of security challenges in the IoT era, added SK.
Going forward, the consortium plans to conduct the testing over long-distance transmission (over 200 kilometers two-way) and it plans to interconnect the existing test networks while building new ones by 2018.
Alex Jinsung Choi, the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Corporate R&D Center of SK Telecom
SK Telecom consortium is proud to announce that it has completed the rollout of five different national test networks for national quantum cryptography communication that cover a combined total of 256 kilometers. With the operation of the national test networks, we have successfully moved beyond the technology development phase onto the next stage where we test and verify the quantum cryptography communication system to ultimately achieve its commercialization.
