"Using Quantum Technologies to Make Communications Secure"

Projects led by scientists in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and partner countries aim to use the power of quantum technology to make communications unhackable. The use of quantum technologies in the security and defense sectors could help future-proof information transmission, protecting information from increasingly sophisticated hacking attacks and contributing to NATO's efforts to maintain its technological advantage. The NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Program's research and development projects have been analyzing the security-related applications of quantum technologies, focusing on three main fields, which are computing, sensing, and communications. Quantum computing and sensing are enhancing the capabilities of computer and remote measurement technologies to levels previously unattainable. SPS activities are yielding the most promising results in the field of quantum communications. These projects use Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) to create systems for information encryption and secure transmission. They respond to rising security concerns about new technologies, such as quantum computers, which can decipher secret communications, by preventing unauthorized access with these techniques. QKD is a quantum communication protocol used to exchange decryption keys. An encrypted message is sent over traditional networks in this system, while the keys to decrypt the information are sent via quantum means. Only the intended recipient can decode the message, making eavesdropping impossible. For the first time, an SPS project used this method to connect Italy and Malta with a prototype QKD link using submarine optical fiber cables. Another research project supported by SPS looked into using QKD techniques to send cryptographic keys from one endpoint to another that was hundreds of kilometers away. Meanwhile, researchers at a Czech Republic university are investigating the use of QKD technology on a 5G network to explore its potential to improve cybersecurity in future communication systems. This article continues to discuss the projects led by scientists in NATO and partner countries that are breaking new ground in using quantum power to make communications impossible to intercept and hack.

NATO reports "Using Quantum Technologies to Make Communications Secure"