Nokia, in partnership with HellasQCI, the Greek National Quantum Communication Infrastructure Consortium, has successfully completed a proof of concept (PoC) for Quantum-Safe Networks (QSN) in Greece, marking a significant technical milestone. This innovative project represents a major advancement in the protection of communication infrastructures from the new risks presented by quantum computing. It was carried out via a complicated optical network ring topology, linking three crucial sites in Greece.
Three nodes were connected by a network ring in the trial: the Data Center of GRNET, the Network Operations Center (NOC) of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and the Optics Communications and Photonic Technology Laboratory (OPTCOMMS-PTL) of the NKUA Department of Informatics and Telecommunications (DIT). The goal of this large-scale study was to demonstrate how Quantum-Safe keys for encrypted optical services may be generated and distributed via hybrid key generation, a technique that blends the principles of quantum and conventional physics. The objective was to guarantee a Quantum-Safe connection infrastructure that could cater to a broad spectrum of consortium members, such as governmental organizations, academic and research establishments, military departments, law enforcement agencies, and proprietors of crucial private sector infrastructure.
Quantum computing has enormous potential and might be used to solve important social problems like security and sustainability. Globally, governments and academic institutions are investing in this technology and investigating its applications in a variety of industries, including environmental science, automotive, and finance. But the development of quantum computing also poses a serious security concern, especially since it may break existing encryption rules and endanger vital infrastructure systems.
The HellasQCI consortium, which consists of 14 governmental organizations and commercial enterprises, has acknowledged the imminence of this danger and is leading efforts to strengthen network infrastructures against quantum assaults. As the consortium's project coordinator, GRNET functions under the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, while NKUA assumes the role of technical coordinator. GRNET is a major participant in this endeavor, serving more than 150 enterprises in 50 locations with critical services including networking, cloud computing, high-performance computing, and e-Infrastructures that affect hundreds of thousands of users in a variety of industries.
James Watt, Head of the Optical Networks Division at Nokia, said: “We are proud to partner with HellasQCI and its consortium members to demonstrate our QSN solution in this challenging and innovative PoC. Test environments like this are crucial to ensure networks are ready for quantum-level cybersecurity attacks, which are inevitable as quantum computing becomes more accessible around the world. Nokia brings a structured framework and a collaborative partner-based approach combined with our world-leading networking expertise with extensive experience managing large-scale and complex deployments with multi-connectivity domain and multi QKD vendor technologies.”
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The Nokia QSN System
The inclusion of the Nokia Security Management Server (SMS), which would be essential to the coordination of Quantum-Safe keys, is a noteworthy feature of the Nokia QSN system. By continuously managing and monitoring quantum-secured connection, this server increases the network's resiliency. Using a novel technique, the SMS can retain safe communication by automatically switching to keys based on classical physics in the event that there are problems with the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) layer.
More than merely a technology experiment, Nokia and HellasQCI's Proof of Concept is a proactive measure to protect our digital future. Initiatives like this are essential to ensure that our infrastructures stay safe and robust against the sophisticated threats of the future as quantum computing develops. The accomplishment of this project not only demonstrates Nokia's and its partners' scientific competence but also highlights the value of international cooperation in tackling the problems brought on by the fast developments in quantum technology.
“We are very pleased with the successful completion of the PoC with Nokia, which is one of the key milestones for the HellasQCI project that establishes the National Quantum Communication Infrastructure in Greece,” said Dr. Ognjen Prnjat, Director for European Infrastructures and Projects Directorate at GRNET. “GRNET plays a crucial role in various European infrastructures for research and education, including EOSC, EUDAT, EGI, GÉANT, PRACE, and EuroHPC, and we are honored to have been given the responsibility by the Ministry of Digital Governance to lead the implementation of this innovative quantum network infrastructure as part of the pan-European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative. The PoC demonstrated the feasibility and the benefits of Quantum-Safe Networks for securing critical communications in Greece and in Europe and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with Nokia and other partners to develop and deploy an operational and secure EuroQCI.”
