Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography
Encyclopedia
Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography (SECOQC) is a project that aims to develop quantum cryptography
(see there for further details). The European Union
decided in 2004 to invest 11 million EUR
in the project as a way of circumventing espionage
attempts by ECHELON
. Christian Monyk
, the coordinator of SECOQC, said people and organizations in Austria
, Belgium
, the United Kingdom
, Canada
, the Czech Republic
, Denmark
, France
, Germany
, Italy
, Russia
, Sweden
, and Switzerland
would participate in the project.
On October 8, 2008 SECOQC was launched in Vienna.
From this, SECOQC can provide easier registration of new end-node in QKD network, and quick recovery from threatenings on quantum channel links.
Quantum cryptography
Quantum key distribution uses quantum mechanics to guarantee secure communication. It enables two parties to produce a shared random secret key known only to them, which can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages...
(see there for further details). The European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
decided in 2004 to invest 11 million EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
in the project as a way of circumventing espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
attempts by ECHELON
ECHELON
ECHELON is a name used in global media and in popular culture to describe a signals intelligence collection and analysis network operated on behalf of the five signatory states to the UK–USA Security Agreement...
. Christian Monyk
Christian Monyk
Christian Monyk is the head of the quantum cryptography business unit of ARC Seibersdorf research GmbH. In addition, he is the overall coordinator of Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography.-Notes:...
, the coordinator of SECOQC, said people and organizations in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
would participate in the project.
On October 8, 2008 SECOQC was launched in Vienna.
Limitations of classical Quantum Cryptography
Quantum cryptography, usually known as Quantum Key Distribution(QKD) provides powerful security. But it has some limitations. Following no-cloning theorem , QKD only can provide 1:1 connection. So the number of links will increase N(N-1)/2 as N represents the number of nodes. If a node wants to participate into the QKD network, it will cause some issues like constructing quantum communication line. To overcome this issues, SECOQC was started.Brief architecture of SECOQC network
SECOQC network architecture can by divided by two parts. Trusted private network and quantum network consisted with QBBs(Quantum Back Bone). Private network is conventional network with end-nodes and a QBB. QBB provides quantum channel communication between QBBs. QBB is consisted with a number of QKD devices that are connected with other QKD devices in 1-to-1 connection.From this, SECOQC can provide easier registration of new end-node in QKD network, and quick recovery from threatenings on quantum channel links.