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Ragihandina kuantûmî

Quantum communications use quantum states of light to distribute encryption keys with security rooted in physics, and in future to link quantum computers and sensors in networks. Quantum key distribution works over limited distances and needs dedicated hardware and trusted nodes today. This page sets out how quantum communications work, what they can and cannot secure, and what evidence serves the network operators and security agencies weighing them.

02The question

Quantum communications: how the risk develops.

Communications research and deployment limits. The dossier below sets out how the risk develops, what is measured, where the data come from, how it is modelled and who decides.

Mekanîzma

Measurement reveals eavesdropping

In quantum key distribution, measuring a quantum state disturbs it, so an eavesdropper introduces detectable errors. Keys are kept only when error rates are low.

Mekanîzma

Distance is limited by loss

Photons are lost in fibre, limiting direct links. Longer networks use trusted relay nodes or satellites, each with security implications.

Mekanîzma

Implementations can be attacked

Real devices deviate from ideal theory. Side-channel attacks on detectors and sources have been demonstrated, so security depends on implementation and certification.

Mekanîzma

Quantum networks are early

Distributing entanglement between distant nodes needs quantum repeaters and memories, which are still in research.

03Çavdêrî bike

Şopînerê koçberiya piştî kuantûmê.

The screen a team would use to follow this subject: its measures, states and decisions. Names are examples and values are illustrative.

Şopînerê koçberiya piştî kuantûmê

Quantum communications · Crypto inventory · Wave 2

Daneyên demdirêj di xeterê deGCRI · Teknolojiyên kuantûmê

Koçberî

  1. Envanterhemû krîpto
  2. Pêşîn biketemenê daneyê
  3. Hilbijêrealgorîtmayên standard
  4. Bicihkirina hîbrîdklasîk û PQC
  5. Ceribandinhevgirtî
  6. Veguhestinteqawît bike

Pergal li gorî pêşînî

Îmzekirina arşîvêRSA-204828ML-DSA hîbrîdPilotkirin
Dergehê VPNECDH9ML-KEM hîbrîdPlankirî
HSM ya dayînêRSA-307211Nexşeya rê ya pêşkêşkerHatiye asteng kirin
Web TLSECDHE2Danûstendina kilîtan a hîbrîdQediya

Pêşveçûn

Hatiye envanterkirin, %70 of 100 requiredHîbrîd hatiye bicihkirin, %36 of 50 requiredHatiye teqawîtkirin, %2 of 25 required
Post-quantum migration tracker: the screen’s structure, terms and states for Quantum communications.Nav û nirxên nimûneyî; sêwiran e, ne qeyd an pergaleke zindî ye.
04Li seranserê qadan

Quantum communication touches the networks domains depend on.

Communication studies are designed for the rêzeya Exponential Technology. Standards work sits in ETSI’s QKD group and the ITU-T Y.3800 series; several national security agencies prefer post-quantum cryptography to QKD for most uses.

  • Network trial reports.
  • Security analyses of QKD implementations.
05Rêbaz û delîl

How quantum communications is modelled, measured and tested.

Model, texmînên wî, daneyên wî û nediyariya wî, bi şeweyê ku zanyar an endezyar kontrol bike. Avahî rêbazên weşandî dişopînin. Nirxên hatine xêzkirin nimûneyî ne, ne encam in.

Modela pergalê

The couplings between the systems in quantum communications: signs of influence, a reinforcing and a balancing loop, and cross-links where stress jumps.

++−+KuantûmSîberCivakAborîR xurtkerB hevseng
Causal loop diagram from the page’s systems; signs show the direction of influence. Illustrative structure for a system dynamics or network model, not estimated couplings.
Prensîbên rêber ên FAIR · GO FAIR û FORCE11W3C PROV · World Wide Web ConsortiumRêwerzên ji bo birêvebirina hevgirtî ya nediyarîyan · IPCCCEOS Analysis Ready Data · Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
06Nîşander

What is measured, and how well.

Each indicator carries its unit, its cadence, the kind of source behind it and the evidence label a value would carry. No values are shown: a programme supplies them under its own authority.

IndicatorUnitCadenceSource typeNîşan
QKD link distancekilometresper demonstrationPublished experimentsREPORTED
Secret key ratebits per second at a stated distanceper demonstrationPublished experimentsREPORTED
Deployed QKD network nodescountannualOperator and government reportsREPORTED
Security evaluations completed for QKD productscountannualEvaluation scheme recordsStatîstîkên weşandî
Quantum memory storage timemillisecondsper experimentPeer-reviewed resultsÇAVDÊRÎKIRÎ
Satellite QKD demonstrationscountannualAgency reportsREPORTED
07Çavkanî

Where the evidence comes from.

Named public datasets and institutional records, each with its licence class. Sources by agreement are used only under their terms and never republished.

ÇavkanîWhat it givesLicence class
ETSI ISG QKD specificationsComponent, interface and security specificationsPublic, ETSI terms
Rêzeya ITU-T Y.3800Network recommendations for QKDPublic, ITU terms
National cyber agency positions on QKDAgency views on QKD versus post-quantum cryptographyPublic, terms per agency
EuroQCI programme documentationEuropean quantum communication infrastructure plansPublic, EU terms
Peer-reviewed quantum communication literatureExperimental resultsLicence per article
08Biryar

Who decides, and what the evidence serves.

Quantum Technologies prepares evidence. The decisions below are taken by the authorities named, under their own rules, and never by the platform.

Kî biryarê dideThe questionEvidence this page serves
Network operatorsWhether QKD fits any of their links and threat modelsUse comparisons; architecture reviews
National cyber agenciesWhat position to take on QKD for government useImplementation security evidence
Research fundersHow to fund quantum network researchProgress on memories and repeaters

Outputs this topic produces

  • Comparisons of QKD and post-quantum cryptography for specific uses
  • Network architecture reviews including trusted nodes
  • Summaries of implementation security evidence
  • Evidence notes for operators
09Core questions

What experts ask.

Communications questions weigh physical security against practical limits.

  • What security does quantum key distribution actually provide, and under what assumptions?
  • How far can quantum signals travel through fibre or free space before they are lost?
  • Do trusted relay nodes undermine end-to-end security?
  • How do implementation flaws in real devices open side channels?
  • How does quantum key distribution compare with post-quantum cryptography for a given use?
10Mechanisms

Mechanisms and drivers.

Quantum key distribution relies on the principle that measuring a quantum state disturbs it, so two parties can detect an eavesdropper and agree a secret key. The security of the ideal protocol rests on physics rather than on assumptions about computational difficulty. Real pergalan, however, use imperfect sources and detectors, and several attacks have exploited those imperfections.

Photons are absorbed and scattered in fibre, which limits direct links to relatively short distances. Longer networks currently rely on trusted nodes, where the key is held in classical form and must be protected conventionally. Quantum repeaters, which would extend range without trusted nodes, remain a research goal. Satellites have been used to demonstrate links over long distances.

11Methods and data

How it is studied, and where the methods stop.

Method or dataWhat it showsSînor
Security proofsTheoretical security of protocolsProofs assume idealised devices
Implementation testing and quantum hacking researchVulnerabilities in real equipmentTesting cannot prove the absence of flaws
Network trialsPerformance, key rates and operationsTrials are limited in scale and duration
Comparative security assessmentWhen quantum or post-quantum approaches fitDepends on threat model and system constraints
12Rêbaz

How it is studied, and what the methods cannot say.

  1. Hesabkirina kuantûmê, hestkirin û ragihandinComparable benchmarking · Technology readiness assessment · Security implications trackingApplied here
  2. Fîzîk û zanista kuantûmêCharacterising qubit noise · Metrology of quantum clocks · Verifying quantum effectsApplied here
  3. Ewlehiya sîber û kriptografîCryptographic inventory · Migration prioritisation · QKD implementation reviewApplied here
13Where this page’s references

Where this page’s references lead.

Sazî û belgeyên ku ev rûpel li hember wan tê xwendin. Rewş û çap diguherin; her girêdan diçe ba saziya derxistinê.

14Pirs

Pirs û bersiv.

What is quantum key distribution?
A method of generating shared encryption keys using quantum states of light, where any eavesdropping introduces detectable errors.
Is QKD unbreakable?
Its theory offers strong guarantees, but real devices have imperfections that have been attacked. Security depends on implementation, evaluation and the trusted nodes used.
Should organisations use QKD or post-quantum cryptography?
Several national agencies recommend post-quantum cryptography for most uses. QKD may suit specific links. The choice depends on threat model and agency guidance.
Is quantum key distribution unbreakable?
The ideal protocol is secure under the laws of physics, but real systems have imperfections, and trusted nodes and authentication still rely on conventional security. Unbreakable is not an accurate description of deployed systems.
Does quantum communication replace post-quantum cryptography?
No. They address different needs. Many security authorities treat post-quantum cryptography as the primary migration route, with quantum key distribution suited to specific use cases.
What is a quantum internet?
A proposed network that would distribute entanglement between distant quantum devices. It remains a long-term research goal.
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Ji vê rûpelê delîl bidin.

rêzeya Pergalên Stratejîk is the Consortium’s quarterly publication. What you know about this subject can become evidence, a case or a correction in the next edition, credited to you and published under CC BY 4.0 where it is your own work.

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