Quantum Cryptography Test Network to Expand Nationwide... KT, SK Broadband Also to Pursue Overseas Demonstrations

Government to Establish Three Hubs by 2028... 7.4 Billion Won in Public-Private Funding This Year
Expansion to Daegu, Gwangju, Busan, and Gangwon... Secure Communications to Be Tested with Singapore and Europe

The government has launched a demonstration project to expand the domestic test network nationwide and connect it to overseas communications networks, accelerating the commercialization of quantum cryptography communications technology. KT will lead the development of the domestic test network, while SK Broadband will lead demonstrations connecting it to overseas networks.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on October 21 that it had held a kickoff briefing for the “Open Quantum Testbed Advancement and Expansion Project” at the Pangyo Corporate Support Hub in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, together with the National Information Society Agency (NIA).

A control facility built by KT to centrally manage the operational status of its quantum cryptography communications network. Through a project involving KT, SK Broadband and other companies, the government plans to expand the domestic quantum communications test network and conduct demonstrations connecting it with overseas networks by 2028. Courtesy of KT.

The project aims to expand the infrastructure for demonstrations so that companies and research institutions can test quantum cryptography communications equipment and technology in real-world communications environments. It will run for three years, from 2026 to 2028. This year, a total of 7.4 billion won will be invested, including 3.75 billion won in government funding and 3.65 billion won in private-sector contributions.

A quantum testbed is a facility where companies can share quantum cryptography communications test networks and high-cost measurement equipment that would be difficult for them to build on their own. Since 2024, the government has established test environments along the Seoul-Pangyo-Daejeon route to support performance testing of technologies and products.

This project will expand the existing facilities into three hubs: commercial, overseas, and future. A consortium led by KT will oversee the commercial and future hubs, while a consortium led by SK Broadband will oversee the overseas hub.

At the commercial hub, the existing test network will be extended to Daegu this year, followed by Gwangju and Busan in 2027 and the Gangwon region in 2028. The project plans to apply quantum cryptography communications to data transmission in the research, medical, and financial sectors, and to verify interoperability among domestically produced equipment made by different manufacturers.

At the overseas hub, the project will conduct international secure communications demonstrations in collaboration with quantum testbeds in Singapore, Poland, Bulgaria, and other countries. Quantum key distribution (QKD) technology will be used on domestic and overseas local network segments, while post-quantum cryptography (PQC) will be used on long-distance international communications links. The project will test applications including research data transmission and the protection of urban air mobility (UAM) data.

At the future hub, the project will verify long-distance wireless quantum cryptography communications and technology for distributing quantum entanglement among multiple locations. The goal is to establish the technological foundation needed to build quantum networks in the future.

Yoon Kyungsuk, Director General for Basic and Original Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “To accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies, it is important to expand the infrastructure for demonstrations so companies can test their technologies and products in a range of environments. By expanding domestic testbeds and connecting them with overseas facilities, we will increase companies’ opportunities to conduct demonstrations and strengthen technical support tailored to needs in the field.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.