LG Uplus' quantum-resistant cryptography lines verified by certification body

By Lim Chang-won Posted : May 18, 2021, 11:15 Updated : May 18, 2021, 11:15

[Courtesy of LG UPlus]

SEOUL -- Quantum-resistant cryptography lines established by LG Uplus in factories and hospitals have been verified by a standardization, testing and certification body in South Korea. The mobile carrier said it would upgrade algorithms to realize the wider use of quantum security infrastructure in various fields in the era of digital transformation, a process of converting analog-based work processes into an automated digital one.

LG Uplus (LGU+) has tested a dedicated backbone network using optical transmission equipment called ROADM (re-configurable optical add-drop multiplexer) to satisfy the needs of various corporate customers and preemptively respond to increased traffic. The backbone network provides enhanced availability through low-latency, multiple route diversity and direct connections between large cities without the need for regeneration.

LGU+ said that the normal operation of lines dedicated to quantum-resistant cryptography has been tested and verified by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA). In a test in March, algorithms used by LGU+ were found to have exceeded TTA's test criteria and showed no problem in linking it with application services and programs.

"LGU+'s quantum security solutions in industrial and medical fields that passed TTA's test and verification will provide high security in more diverse industries," said LGU+'s NW division head Kwon Jun-hyuk. "We will upgrade our algorithms further to increase quantum security infrastructure that is more common and more useful."

The expansion of cloud services such as telecommuting, video conferencing and remote classes prompted companies to provide a higher level of services with a flexible and stable transmission network. Quantum cryptography is an essential security solution for safeguarding critical information. Data encoded in a quantum state is virtually unhackable without quantum keys which are basically random number tables used to decipher encrypted information.

LGU+ has commercialized post-quantum cryptography (PQC) technology, which refers to cryptographic algorithms that are thought to be secure against an attack by a quantum computer. Cryptographers are designing new algorithms to prepare for a time when quantum computing becomes a threat. PQC does not require separate network infrastructure to distribute cryptographic keys because it can be applied flexibility to different sections of wired and wireless networks that require encryption.

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