SKT-SKB-IDQ Consortium Completes Construction of 'Quantum Cryptography Communication Infrastructure'
Blocking Hacking of Sensitive Information, Government and Aiming to Build 'Quantum Cryptography Highway'

SK Telecom (CEO Yoo Young-sang) attended the 'Quantum Technology Performance Report Conference' and announced the results of the construction of a 'quantum cryptography communication pilot infrastructure' and future plans, focusing on advancing quantum cryptography technology and expanding its business and taking the lead in international standardization activities.

SK Telecom announced on the 26th that it attended the 'Quantum Technology Achievement Report Conference' held by the Ministry of Science and ICT at the Pangyo Enterprise Support Hub and presented the results of the construction of the 'Quantum Cryptography Communication Pilot Infrastructure' and future plans.

The 'SKB Consortium' consisting of SKT, SK Broadband, and IDQ won a large number of national quantum cryptography projects commissioned by the National Intelligence Information Society Agency (NIA) and hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT as part of the 'Digital New Deal' in May of last year, and successfully built a quantum cryptography communication network by applying it to 9 sections of 8 organizations.

■ 8 public and private quantum cryptography communication networks, 'blocking hacking and leaks' from medical information to core industrial technologies

SKT has built a quantum cryptography communication network in eight organizations, including Korea University Anam Hospital, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Pyeonghwa Holdings, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and Daejeon Metropolitan City. The combined distance of the quantum cryptography communication networks of eight organizations amounts to approximately 280 kilometers.

In the medical sector, the consortium built a quantum cryptography communication network based on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) between Korea University Anam Hospital and Korea University Jeongneung K-Bio Center.

SKT has strengthened security by providing a quantum key distribution (QKD) device to the inter-hospital communication network to create an encryption key that neutralizes attempts by third parties to steal the key.

In the private sector, the application security service based on the Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) can be applied to Pyeonghwa Holdings, which develops design technology for parts for Hyundai and Kia hydrogen vehicles, to prevent leakage of core technologies.

A quantum cryptography communication network will be built in the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Ring sections to enhance security in controlled areas and prevent leakage of sensitive information exchanged with each organization.

We will build an advanced social safety net through quantum security technology, including strengthening security for personal information such as resident registration numbers, driver's licenses, and account numbers used by administrative agencies.

■ SKT, together with the government, aim to build a ‘quantum cryptography highway’

SKT is expanding the scope of application of quantum cryptography communications in various fields such as medicine, public, industry, and finance by carrying out the government's New Deal project. Accordingly, the goal is to build a 'quantum cryptography highway' connecting major cities across the country.

Last December, SKT announced that its developed quantum cryptography communication network integrated management standard was adopted as an industry standard by the European Telecommunications Standardization Institute (ETSI), and successfully completed a demonstration of Q-SDN (Quantum Cryptography Network Software Defined Networking) interworking between different telecommunications equipment companies on the national test network, 'KOREN'.

Ha Min-yong, head of SKT Innovation Suite, said, “We are delighted to have successfully completed this government’s New Deal national policy project,” and added, “We will continue to focus on advancing quantum cryptography technology and expanding our business, and we will continue to lead international standardization activities to revitalize the ecosystem.”