Smallest-ever Quantum Cryptography Chip
Key equipment was developed for the popularization of quantum cryptography known to be impossible to hack.
SK Telecom announced on July 23 that it developed a prototype chip for generating ultra-small quantum random numbers. The product which was unveiled to the media on July 21 was developed in the form of a non-memory semiconductor chip, a quantum random number generator (QRNG), a key component of quantum cryptography. The chip size is 5x5 mm, which is the smallest among quantum random number generation chips which have been developed so far.
Quantum cryptography is a communication encryption technology that uses a characteristic of quantums, which is the minimum unit of energy that quantum cannot be duplicated. This technology encrypts information with a random number generated by the movements of quantums, and sends it to light grains (photons). It is known that unlike conventional optical communication, since one single photon is used instead of multiple light grains, when a third party tries to intercept information in the middle, the sender and receiver will know it, and therefore, hacking is fundamentally impossible.
For quantum cryptography communication, quantum random number generators must be installed on smart phones and network equipment to constantly generate unpredictable random numbers. Until now, commercialized quantum random number generators have had a large size and their prices have ranged from millions of won to tens of millions of won, making them difficult to mount on general products.
SK Telecom’s quantum random-number generation chip is smaller than a nail and can be mounted on various IoT devices as well as autonomous vehicles, smartphones and drones. The price will be set at several dollars.
SK Telecom also started to develop a USB-type quantum random number generator. The chip type must be loaded from a product development stage, but the USB type has an advantage that it can be applied to already commercialized products.
SK Telecom is working with multiple security companies to tap into the global market of quantum random number generation chips. The company is also seeking to enter the international optical communication market of quantum cryptography communication systems.
SK Telecom also overcame a limited communication distance, which is considered a stumbling block to the commercialization of quantum cryptographic communication by developing a dedicated repeater. Since quantum cryptography uses only a single-quantum-level weak signal, the technology was able to transmit only up to 80 km. But SK Telecom developed a dedicated relay device that extended the communication distance to 120 km last month. By connected multiple repeaters can ramp up the communication distance to several hundred kilometers to several thousand kilometers.