BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Telecom
(NYSE:SKM) today announced that it entered into an agreement with
Nokia to cooperate in the quantum cryptography business.
Under the agreement, SK Telecom and Nokia will conduct joint
research and development activities to achieve interworking between
SK Telecom's Quantum Key Distribution System (QKD) and Nokia's
next-generation optical transport system by the second half of this
year.
SK Telecom and Nokia have been working together closely from
2016 for interoperation of SK Telecom's quantum technologies with
Nokia's optical transport system. The first prototype of this
collaboration, also known as Quantum Transport System, is being
demonstrated at Nokia's booth (Hall 3, 3A10) during the 2017 GSMA
Mobile World Congress.
The quantum cryptography communication is known as the most
secure form of communication encryption that cannot be broken with
any existing hacking technology. Quantum cryptography is expected
to replace the existing security solutions in all areas at risk of
data hacking, including national defense, finance, autonomous
vehicle and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Under the agreement, the two companies will also cooperate in
the area of Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG), a technology
necessary for applying quantum cryptography technologies to IoT
devices.
SK Telecom's QRNG is the world's smallest 5x5mm CMOS Image
Sensor (CIS) based all-in-one, single silicon (ASIC) providing
non-deterministic true random numbers on demand from quantum-shot
noise. SK Telecom plans to tape out engineering samples of QRNG
chip (ASIC) in the second quarter of 2017 and commercial launch is
planned by the year end. SK Telecom envisions using QRNG for
Internet of "secure" Things (IoT).
"Since opening Quantum Tech Lab in 2011, SK Telecom has been
making constant efforts to develop quantum cryptography
technologies," said Park Jung-ho,
CEO and President of SK Telecom. "Based on the cooperation with
Nokia, SK Telecom will create a new paradigm and ecosystem in the
field of ICT."
"With SK Telecom's quantum cryptography technologies, we have
secured the basis for building the most secure network security
solution," said Rajeev Suri, CEO of
Nokia. "We will respond proactively to rapidly growing demands of
the cyber security market with these technologies and
solutions."
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.
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SOURCE SK Telecom