China’s experiment in quantum communication brings Beijing closer to creating a hack-proof network
- Pan Jianwei and team report in science journal the results of two-year test for an integrated space-to-ground network
- China is positioning itself to be a world leader in quantum technology, including drafting international standards
China’s hack-proof quantum communication technology is “primarily ready” for practical use after a 4,600km (2,858 mile) network was put through two years of experimental service, researchers announced.
Since early 2019, the integrated space-to-ground quantum communication network has proved its “practical security”, and “maintained long-term reliability and stability” through ground fibres and achieved an adequately fast link with a satellite, according to a paper by the researchers published in the science journal Nature on Wednesday.
The Chinese scientists have been drafting international standards for relevant technologies with the International Organisation for Standardisation and other groups.
“Such a prototype of integrated space-to-ground network has laid a scientific and technological foundation for a secure quantum communication global network in the future,” said Science and Technology Daily, the official newspaper of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
In theory, the laws of physics ensure hacking attempts on the messages transmitted through quantum entanglement-based channels cause a physical change allowing them to be discovered and an alert raised.
When fully developed, quantum communication can be applied in fields such as finance, defence, government administration and electronic information, according to scientists.