SK Telecom (CEO Yoo Young-sang) has been recognized for its world-class technological capabilities in the field of quantum cryptography by embarking on the development of a next-generation quantum security standard that leverages the strengths of highly secure QKD and highly scalable PQC.

SKT announced on the 29th that it will proceed with the development of the 'Quantum-safe communication (QSC)' standard project at the second half of the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group 17 (SG17) international meeting, which will be held at KINTEX in Ilsan from the 29th to September 8th.

SKT announced at this meeting that it will proceed with the standard development work for 'Quantum Security Communication,' which was adopted as a project after successfully proposing a new proposal at the meeting held in the first half of the year.

'Quantum Security Communication' is a communication security technology that creates synergy by utilizing the advantages of complementary Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum-Resistant Cryptography (PQC) to protect the entire communication process from attacks by quantum computers.

sheepBecause Jockey Key Distribution technology is based on the properties of quantum mechanics, its security strength is high enough to make hacking virtually impossible in principle. As a hardware-based technology, operators must install and operate physical key distribution devices at every segment.

Quantum-resistant cryptography is an encryption method that utilizes difficult mathematical problems to make it take a long time for a quantum computer to solve, and it is highly scalable as it can be implemented through software upgrades.

SKT is currently conducting research on a key management solution that integrates and manages quantum cryptography and quantum-resistant cryptography.

By utilizing this, quantum cryptographic keys and quantum-resistant cryptography can be operated in an integrated manner. By connecting sections applying quantum key distribution technology with sections applying quantum-resistant cryptography technology, the entire communication path can be protected from quantum computer attacks. It is also possible to maximize security strength by using both technologies within a single section.

In addition, SKT has submitted a proposal to expand the standardization scope of the working group within the Information Security Research Group, which deals with quantum cryptography, to the entire quantum technology sector during the next research session to be held from 2025 to 2028, and this will be discussed at this meeting.

SKT is taking the lead in establishing global standards for quantum cryptography communication, as well as developing and commercializing technologies based on this. SKT, together with SK Broadband and IDQ, is also achieving results in the commercialization of quantum cryptography communication technology, such as establishing standards at ETSI for operating quantum cryptography networks composed of communication equipment from different manufacturers and successfully demonstrating the technology on a national test network.

In addition, SKT commercialized quantum-resistant cryptography for the first time in Korea on international VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) in the U.S., Japan, Singapore, and other countries by utilizing an algorithm that is highly likely to be adopted as a global standard technology related to quantum-resistant cryptography.

Based on its research efforts in quantum cryptography technology, SKT successfully applied quantum key distributors to its commercial LTE network in 2016 and its 5G network between Seoul and Daejeon in 2019. In particular, the company is gaining recognition for its quantum technology capabilities on the global stage, achieving the remarkable feat of successively winning quantum cryptography construction projects in global markets such as the United States, Europe, and Singapore.

Ha Min-yong, Chief Business Development Officer (CDO) at SKT, stated, “It is highly significant that we took the lead in establishing standards for next-generation security technologies at an international conference, leveraging the complementary strengths of quantum cryptography and quantum-resistant cryptography.” He added, “As a leading national quantum company, SKT will lead the global quantum cryptography market through research and business related to quantum cryptographic communications.”