As part of the EQUO project, a quantum-secure communication has been successfully demonstrated on a combined terrestrial and submarine fiber optic network across three nodes in the metropolitan area of Lisbon. The trial, presented live at the European Quantum Technology Conference – EQTC 2024, highlights the capability of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to enhance security on existing communication networks.
From the technological viewpoint, the trial was the result of a collaboration between EQUO projects’ partners Telsy, TIM Enterprise’s centre of excellence for secure communications and cybersecurity, and its subsidiary QTI – Quantum Telecommunications Italy, leading Italian company in the development of QKD solutions, and MEO – Serviços de Comunicações e Multimédia, a Portuguese telecommunications operator.
The demonstration featured QKD-secured videoconferencing between the EQTC venue at Culturgest in Lisbon and Sesimbra, enabled by TelsyAntares videoconference platform. The link, spanning terrestrial and submarine fiber provided by MEO, included a trusted node in Carcavelos to ensure a long-haul QKD connection. This deployment optimized communications security in Lisbon’s complex urban setting while showcasing real-world application potential.
With this trial, the EQUO project, which focuses on the design, development, and testing of advanced QKD solutions for integration into current telecommunication networks, underscored the European Union’s commitment to deploying cutting-edge quantum technologies in telecommunications infrastructures and contributed to paving the way for more secure, resilient, and future-ready infrastructures across the continent.
Press release: https://www.gruppotim.it/en/press-archive/market/2024/PR_Telsy_QTI_and_MEO_QKD_Lisbon.html
