China Establishes Quantum-Secure Communication Links With South Africa
Insider Brief
- China has established a quantum key distribution link between Beijing and South Africa, marking its first ultra-secure communication connection in the southern hemisphere.
- The experiment used China’s quantum communication satellites, advancing efforts to build an intercontinental network resistant to hacking.
- China aims to launch a global quantum communication service by 2027, leveraging quantum satellites to secure transmissions among BRICS nations.
China has successfully extended ultra-secure quantum communication into the southern hemisphere for the first time, linking Beijing and South Africa using a quantum key distribution system, according to an article in the South China Morning Post.
The announcement means that China is advancing efforts to create an intercontinental communication network resistant to hacking, with potential applications in finance, national security, and other sensitive fields.
Yin Juan, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), announced the achievement at the annual plenary meeting in Beijing. The demonstration, spanning 12,800 kilometers (7,954 miles), was enabled by China’s quantum communication satellites.
“It is also the first time this kind of secure quantum key distribution experiment has been implemented in the southern hemisphere,” said Yin, who played a key role in developing China’s first quantum communication satellite, Mozi, also known as Micius.
Another Great Link Forward
China has established multiple satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD) links to enhance secure communications. The cornerstone of these efforts is the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) project, featuring the satellite known as Micius, launched in 2016. Micius has enabled several significant QKD experiments:
China-Austria Link (2017): Micius facilitated a secure quantum communication channel between China and Austria, covering a ground distance of approximately 7,600 kilometers. This achievement enabled the first intercontinental secure quantum video call in 2017.
China-Russia Link: China has utilized Micius and a network of ground stations to establish secure communications between China and Russia.
How Does It Work?
Quantum communication uses principles of quantum mechanics to securely transmit information. A key component is quantum key distribution (QKD), a technique that allows two parties to share encryption keys in a way that makes eavesdropping detectable. If an unauthorized party intercepts the transmission, the quantum state of the key is disturbed, alerting users to a security breach.
China is considered one of the global leaders in the development of QKD technology. The nation’s scientists have been making strides in the technology since 2017, when researchers scientists used Mozi to establish a secure “quantum call” and transmit images between China and Austria. The latest advance expands that capability and demonstrates real-time secure communication using low-cost quantum micro-nano satellites and mobile ground stations, according to Yin.
A scientific paper detailing the experiment is set to be published in the journal Nature in mid-March.
The advancement aligns with Beijing’s broader strategy to invest in future technologies, including quantum information science. A draft economic and social development plan from China’s National Development and Reform Commission highlights quantum communication as a key area of focus. The country has already established secure communication links with Russia using Mozi and aims to build similar networks among BRICS nations, including South Africa.
China’s long-term goal is to launch a global quantum communication service by 2027. Pan Jianwei, a leading physicist and chief architect of the Mozi satellite, has described this effort as a step toward building a fully operational quantum satellite constellation.
The global competition in quantum technology is intensifying.
Yin said that competition in quantum information technology is “essentially a game of national comprehensive scientific and technological strength,” SCMP reported.
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Recommendations to Optimize China’s Quantum Strategy
China is positioning itself as a leader in this field by enhancing basic research, expanding investment in applied quantum technology, and refining policies to attract top talent. During her NPC address, Yin recommended that China optimize its strategy for training and retaining experts in quantum information science.
According to the SCMP, Yin also fostering international collaboration, adding that science and technology are still a global matter. She added that China should promote high-level international exchanges and cooperation in quantum technology,” she said.
Establishing international quantum standards, she added, could allow China to exert greater influence over the future global quantum communication network.
China intends to leverage its quantum satellites to establish secure communications between the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — bloc of emerging markets, reported SCMP.
Pan Jianwei, known as the “father of quantum” and one of key researchers who built the Mozi satellite, said that China aimed to complete its quantum satellite constellation and then launch an ultra-secure global communications service by 2027, according to SCMP.
While quantum communication holds promise for securing sensitive information, significant challenges remain. Scaling up QKD for widespread use requires overcoming obstacles related to cost, satellite coverage, and integration with existing communication infrastructure.