- The global alliance aims to maintain security in the age of
quantum computing
- New members to be announced in the coming weeks and
months
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Telecom
(NYSE:SKM) and Deutsche Telekom today have established "Quantum
Alliance" at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to enable secure communication in
the age of quantum computing.
Industrial espionage and cyber-attacks by hostile intelligence
services are an increasing threat. In turn, in the not-too-distant
future, quantum computing may provide such powerful performance
that it could crack encryption algorithms that are currently
considered secure. This would render today's common cryptography
methods virtually useless and make server access, data links and
documents freely accessible and viewable with little effort.
Quantum computing, a hot research topic at present, would undermine
the foundations of current encryption methods and with them, the
security of the entire Internet. But even today, there is a need
for tap-proof communication channels for key exchange.
To meet these present and future needs, SK Telecom and Deutsche
Telekom founded the Quantum Alliance at the Mobile World Congress
2017 in Barcelona, to ensure that
communications remain secure in the age of quantum computing. The
Alliance's primary objective is to ensure that the technical
prerequisites for secure communications continue to be met in the
future. To do so, network operators and hardware manufacturers must
work together to define and implement technical standards. As a
second step, the alliance will aim to develop flexible services and
security solutions for secure communications.
"Committed to building a quantum-safe future, SK Telecom has
been actively developing quantum cryptography technologies since
2011. SK Telecom believes that the co-establishment of the Quantum
Alliance with Deutsche Telekom will bring us closer to realizing
this goal, while also creating new valuable business opportunities
in areas including quantum-safe communications, the Internet of
Things and big data. We will work together to accelerate the growth
of quantum-based cybersecurity technologies and its ecosystem,"
said Cha In-hyok, Executive Vice President and Head of IoT Business
Division.
"When it comes to security, we have to think beyond tomorrow.
With the Quantum Alliance, we are taking the lead in a technical
development that will revolutionize IT: we will help to ensure that
communications remain secure even after a breakthrough is made in
quantum computing and the first computers hit the market," said
Claudia Nemat, Deutsche Telekom
Board member for Technology and Innovation, in Barcelona. Nemat continued, "In SK Telecom, a
technology leader in quantum cryptography, we have found the best
partner for this challenge."
SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom are committed to recruiting more
partners for the Quantum Alliance in the coming weeks and months.
The companies intend to approach network operators, network
equipment makers, device manufacturers and software vendors. "A
secure global communications network can only work if all the
players agree on the same rules. That's what we're pushing right
now," said Claudia Nemat. SK Telecom
and Deutsche Telekom will then draw up a specific action plan for
how to proceed, together with the new partners.
The Alliance's medium-term target is to develop, test and
establish products that enable secure communications in the age of
quantum computing.
About SK Telecom
Established in 1984, SK Telecom is the largest mobile operator
in Korea by both revenue and number of subscribers. As of
December 2016, the company holds
around 50 percent of the market, with 29.60 million mobile
subscribers including 21.1 million LTE subscribers. It has reached
KRW 17.092 trillion in revenue in
2016.
SK Telecom has led the advancement of mobile technologies
ranging from 2G to 4G, and is currently setting important
milestones in its journey to 5G. The company is not only leading
innovation in the field of mobile network, but also providing IoT,
media, home and platform services.
SK Telecom is determined to play a significant role in the
Fourth Industrial Revolution by achieving innovations and promoting
shared growth with other players in the industry.
For more information, please
visit www.sktelecom.com/en or
contact skt_press@sk.com.
About Deutsche Telekom:
https://www.telekom.com/en/company/at-a-glance
Further information for the media at
www.telekom.com/media
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www.telekom.com/blog
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