SK Telecom develops quantum cryptography key-switching technology

By Park Sae-jin Posted : June 28, 2019, 17:14 Updated : June 28, 2019, 17:14

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SEOUL -- SK Telecom, South Korea's largest mobile carrier, has developed a quantum cryptography key-switching technology which ensures the safe transfer of encrypted keys even during network failures by sending the key to another working network.

SK Telecom (SKT) said in a statement on Friday that the company developed a new quantum cryptography key-switching technology in partnership with ID Quantique (IDQ), a Geneva-based quantum cryptography technology firm, as part of a government project to develop core encryption technologies which ensure the safe transfer of quantum-encrypted keys.

Quantum cryptography has emerged as an essential security solution for safeguarding critical information in the 5G era. Data encoded in a quantum state is virtually unhackable without quantum keys which are basically random number tables used to decipher encrypted information.

The mobile carrier also succeeded in adding the routing feature to devices where multiple networks connect to. By using the routing feature, encrypted keys can be sent using any preferred network.

The new technologies were applied to a figure-eight-shaped 362 kilometer (224 miles)-long test network. SKT said that this development is meaningful as quantum cryptography technology can be applied to a network of all structures to secure better complementarities.

Quantum cryptography has emerged as an essential security solution for safeguarding critical information in the 5G era. Data encoded in a quantum state is virtually unhackable without quantum keys which are basically random number tables used to decipher encrypted information.

SKT has tested a quantum cryptographic communication solution through cooperation with Deutsche Telekom, the largest telecom provider in Europe.

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