Singapore’s NUS trials national quantum-safe network with AWS and Thales

(ChannelAsia) Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Program (QEP), hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), has launched the National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) and will start conducting trials for government agencies and private companies keen on adopting the technology.
The network will provide two key technologies, namely quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography. The former is a hardware approach to quantum-safe communication requiring the installation of devices to create and receive quantum signals, while the latter upgrades software to run new cryptographic algorithms perceived to be resistant to attacks by quantum computers.
The initiative will cost about S$8.5million over three years and involve over 15 private and government collaborators, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Thales. The launch follows a memorandum of understanding signed by AWS and NUS to develop new quantum communication and computing technology capabilities.
With the new initiative in place, the NQSN and their collaborators will deploy commercial technologies for trials, conduct in-depth evaluation of security systems, and develop guidelines to support companies in adopting such technologies.
The project’s research team expects to have the first nodes up within a year. They will simultaneously establish a quantum security lab to dive into advanced quantum security vulnerability research and secure design. They will also organise workshops with potential end-users to better understand their needs and build awareness of the new technologies available. Currently, there are plans to deploy 10 network nodes across Singapore connected to fibre.
The 15 participating organisations will contribute in different ways to the network. NUS, NTU and Fraunhofer Singapore will provide expertise, coordination and locations for hardware.
AWS, Government Technology Agency of Singapore, the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres will contribute to development of use cases. ST Engineering and Thales will work on network security, providing hardware for integration into the network.