SK Telecom (CEO Yoo Young-sang) has passed the government-level cryptographic module verification (KCMVP) for its ‘quantum cryptography chip,’ paving the way for the spread of quantum cryptography security chips.

SKT announced on the 13th that the 'Quantum Cryptography Chip (QKEV7)' jointly developed and commercialized with KCS (CEO Gwang-mook Kim) successfully passed the National Intelligence Service's Cryptographic Module Verification (KCMVP).

KCMVP is a system that verifies the stability and implementation suitability of cryptographic systems used to protect important information of the state and public institutions. Currently, cryptographic modules installed in information protection systems for the state and public institutions must receive KCMVP certification.

A 'quantum crypto chip' is a security chip that combines two chips: a quantum random number generator chip and an encrypted communication chip. In particular, it features ultra-light weight and low power consumption while being equipped with powerful security features such as physical unclonable function (PUF) technology and quantum-based encryption key generation technology.

SKT unveiled its ‘quantum cryptography chip’ at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) held in Barcelona, Spain in 2023 and began commercialization.

The certification that SKT received this time is the National Intelligence Service KCMVP Security Level 2, which is the highest level of certification granted by the National Intelligence Service to cryptographic modules to date. This is the first time in Korea that a security chip with a quantum random number generator has passed the National Intelligence Service's security verification.

SKT predicted that this passage of the National Intelligence Service security verification will serve as an opportunity for the use of 'quantum cryptography chips' in various fields that require high security, such as national defense and other public institutions, as well as corporate AI CCTVs, drones, and 5G specialized networks.

Starting with this KCMVP certification, SKT and KCS plan to secure the market by making full-fledged advances into the defense and public sectors, while also focusing on next-generation national security-related verification projects with the next-generation quantum cryptography chip 'Q-HSM' released last June.

'Q-HSM' is the world's first quantum cryptography chip equipped with software-based PQC (quantum resistant cryptography) on a 'quantum cryptography chip', and is characterized by strong security.

Meanwhile, SKT is leading the development of the domestic quantum cryptography market by passing the KCMVP in 2022 with a transmission encryption device that uses data encryption using a quantum key distributor.

In particular, in October of last year, the company launched a 'QKD·PQC hybrid' quantum cryptography product that combines the latest quantum-resistant cryptography (PQC) standard algorithm with a quantum key distribution (QKD) device, and has the strongest security among quantum cryptography devices released to date.

Ha Min-yong, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of SKT’s Global Solutions Office, said, “The ‘Quantum Cryptography Chip’ has once again proven its excellent security by passing the National Intelligence Service’s most stringent cryptographic module certification in South Korea.” He added, “We will continue to introduce quantum cryptography-based solutions and products to the market that will perfectly protect important information of the country, organizations, companies, and customers.”