KT will extend South Korea's quantum cryptography testbed nationwide by 2028

[GOAT25]

South Korea's quantum communication network is about to spread well beyond its current hubs. Digital Today's Jin-ho Lee reports that KT will expand the national quantum cryptography testbed, now centred on Seoul, Pangyo and Daejeon, to cover the whole country by 2028

The work falls under a government project to advance and expand the open quantum testbed. In the commercial section, KT will add new routes between Daejeon and Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju, Daegu and Busan, and Seoul and Chuncheon. Demonstrations in finance and healthcare are planned along those links

A second future hub section looks further ahead. KT plans to move quantum key distribution onto wireless and satellite links, raising wireless range from about 4.8 kilometres to about 15 kilometres. It will also work on adaptive optics and multi node entanglement distribution

Jeon Myung-jun of KT spoke about building infrastructure that companies and researchers can use. Quantum Computing Report adds that SK Broadband also has a role in the wider project

South Korea has quietly built one of the more serious quantum communication programmes in the world. A nationwide testbed lets companies try quantum key distribution on real routes rather than lab benches. Tripling wireless range would be a big step if KT manages it

Is quantum key distribution worth building at national scale? And how does it compare with simply moving to post-quantum algorithms?

KT to expand national quantum communications infrastructure with nationwide testbedwww.digitaltoday.co.kr