KT and KIST Jointly Built Test Network for Quantum Cryptography Communication

KT and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on February 19 that they succeeded in building a test network for quantum cryptography communication.

In the test network, one server and multiple clients successfully exchanged quantum cryptographic keys at the same time in KT’s commercial network environment. In addition, simultaneous quantum communication involving multiple spots and a single piece of equipment was successfully realized, which means their technique can be more efficient than existing technologies.

Quantum communication is a communication technique utilizing the non-replicable nature of quanta. When a third party attempts to intercept communication data, both a transmitter and a receiver can detect it, and thus hacking is impossible.

These days, mobile carriers around the world are working on quantum cryptography. This is because they are trying to enhance information security before communication is used in greater depth in a wider variety of fields, such as disaster control and finance, in the era of 5G characterized by massive data transmission.

SK Telecom, which has worked on the same technology since 2011, is also accelerating the commercialization of the technology. SK Telecom is especially concentrating on quantum cryptography communication for self-driving vehicles. At present, the company is capable of producing and mounting quantum random number generators as small as a semiconductor chip. LG U+, in the meantime, is planning to initiate its development process this year.