The government and the EU are committing €10m in a new initiative which aims to protect the transmission of sensitive data and prevent cyberattacks.
A Quantum Communications Infrastructure (QCI) network will be deployed over the next two years by the IrelandQCI. This pilot network forms part of Europe’s initiative EuroQCI, which aims to build a secure Quantum Communication Infrastructure across the whole EU.
The main function of this new QCI network will be to enable an ultra-secure form of encryption so that data can be transmitted safely without the risk of being hacked.
They will do this by enhancing ESB Telecoms’ optical fibre network with an additional layer of security, based on quantum physics, in particular quantum key distribution (QKD).
Ireland is committing €5m to the initiative, matching the €5m in EU funding.
In Association with
IrelandQCI, a 30-month project, consists of experts from six universities, led by Waterford’s Walton Institute in South East Technological University (SETU).
The new network will be made available for research purposes, as well as allowing government, agencies and companies to start building competence and capability and to develop the skills to secure critical infrastructure, data assets, and encryption systems.
Project Lead and Director of Research at Walton Institute, Dr Deirdre Kilbane, said: “We are developing novel quantum technologies that will secure critical communication networks and at the same time taking first steps towards building the quantum internet in Ireland.”
The IrelandQCI team will establish Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) infrastructure along a major network backbone from Dublin to Cork via Waterford using a quantum channel integrated with existing classical fibre systems.
QKD is a secure communication method for exchanging encryption keys known between shared parties alone. The communication method uses properties of quantum physics to exchange cryptographic keys in such a way that is provable and guarantees security.
The security of current encryption technologies relies on computational hardness assumptions - assumptions about how hard it would be to decrypt messages without a key.
The EU fears that advances in quantum computing, combined with ever more sophisticated attacks from different sources, could put at risk the security of the telecom and data communication networks.
The Irish project is one of several across the EU which sees the European Commission working with 27 member states as well as the European Space Agency towards the deployment of a secure quantum communication infrastructure spanning the EU.
Minister Ossian Smyth stated: “Developing Ireland’s first quantum communications infrastructure network will bring quantum technologies a step closer, and will help Irish businesses, public agencies, and the general public to start building the skills needed to benefit from the quantum internet.”
Image: Prof. Dan Kilper, Minister Ossian Smyth and Dr Deirdre Kilbane
