Quantum network starts in Portugal! 6.8 million euros
The 1st segment of the European quantum communication network in Portugal, called PTQCI, was awarded (on July 15) by the European Commission to a consortium that has the collaboration of several Portuguese companies.
The goal is to implement the first ultra-secure quantum communication infrastructure nationwide.
First ultra-secure quantum communication infrastructure at national level starts in Portugal
The consortium is secured by the engineering laboratory of Deimos Engenharia, with the collaboration of the National Telecommunications Office, of Al. Adyta, Instituto Superior Técnico, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Warpcom, Omnidea, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Português da Qualidade and Instituto Português Quantum also participated in the consortium.
The objective is to implement the first ultra-secure quantum communication infrastructure at a national level, through terrestrial connections, but also intends to have a spatial connection, using technologies such as Quantum Cryptographic Key Distribution (QKD).
The project in question is based on Discretion, another project started in December 2021 that also provides for the development of quantum communications for the Portuguese Defense authorities. Discretion is already in the implementation phase on fiber optic infrastructure in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, interconnecting public bodies and a network of test benches, including academia and interested companies, reveals DinheiroVivo.
The PTQCI will start in 2023, with the design of the implementation phases. The standards and integration that is Discretion are planned for 202. And in the next, the implementation of the functional and security tests. An unprecedented infrastructure implementation phase will take place in 2026.
Future quantum communication networks will be able to receive different quantum learning systems, each of them will receive quantum information education, each of them will receive quantum information education.