Pilot Project in Full Swing
The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on Jan. 26 that quantum cryptography communication networks are in the process of testing at a total of 26 organizations in the public and private sectors.
Quantum cryptography communication is to protect communication data using quantum characteristics. It is an essential component of the fields where sensitive information is stored in a database, such as medical and financial. According to market research firms, the global quantum cryptography market is expected to grow from US$100 million in 2018 to US$500 million in 2023.
The ministry and major South Korean mobile carriers are proceeding with quantum cryptography communication infrastructure building projects. Last year, the three mobile carriers built quantum cryptography communication networks in both the public and private sectors. Specifically, SK Telecom and KT are employing quantum key distribution and LG U+ is using post-quantum cryptography.
The three companies’ technologies obtained from the projects have become international standards. For example, those proposed by SK Telecom and KT have been adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute and the International Telecommunication Union, respectively. This means the use of South Korean quantum cryptography equipment can be expanded abroad.