CONNECT44 – the newest issue of GÉANT’s CONNECT Magazine is out now, and it’s filled with contributions from the community, including GRNET, NKUA and NOKIA.

Special Focus

The Future of  Cybersecurity: and the Role of NRENs in building National Quantum Communication Infrastructure, enabling robust European Quantum Communications

Pages: 25-26

Words by: Dr. Ilias Papastamatiou, GRNET and Piotr Rydlichowski, PSNC

One of the highlights of this issue is an article on quantum communications, the future of cybersecurity. In this article, Dr. Ilias Papastamatiou from GRNET and Piotr Rydlichowski from PSNC, Poland’s NREN and coordinator of the PIONIER-Q project, talk about the new and evolving domain of quantum communication technologies.

Quantum communication is a new and rapidly developing field that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to transmit information securely. Quantum communication technologies have the potential to revolutionise cybersecurity, as they are inherently resistant to eavesdropping and other attacks.

The joint article from GRNET and PSNC considers how a combined system of EuroQCI, EuroQCS, and EuroQSM (you’ll have to read the article!) can provide the ideal environment for development and integration of quantum technologies. The two co-authors, namely Dr. Ilias Papastamatiou from GRNET and Piotr Rydlichowski from PSNC, examine the evolving field of quantum communication technologies, while agreeing that the exchange of expertise and collaboration among NRENs are essential for creating a secure and operational EuroQCI. Moreover, Dr. Aristeidis Sotiropoulos, GRNET CEO, supports that the creation of this quantum infrastructure, combined with other initiatives, will ensure the highest possible level of security in all government and private sector communications.

Keeping the network secure along the quantum path

Page: 29

Words by: Chris Janson, Nokia | Contribution: GRNET, NKUA, Nokia

Another important article in this issue of CONNECT Magazine is an article by NOKIA, GRNET & the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on the ways to keep the network secure along the quantum path. Specifically, Nokia believes the Quantum-Safe Network is evolutive. Utilising classic physics based pre-shared keys, distributed through manual or automated means provides quantum-safe protection against HNDL attack.

As quantum computers become more powerful, they could pose a serious threat to existing encryption algorithms. Nokia’s article discusses the steps that can be taken to protect networks from quantum attacks.

About HellasQCI & PIONIER-Q

The HellasQCI project is a national project to develop and deploy a quantum communication infrastructure in Greece. The project is led by GRNET and includes a consortium of partners from academia, industry, and government.

The PIONIER-Q project is a similar project in Poland, led by PSNC. The two projects are working closely together to develop and deploy interoperable quantum communication networks in Greece and Poland.

About GÉANT & Connect Magazine
Through interconnections with its 39 national research and education network (NREN) partners, the GÉANT network is the largest and most advanced R&E network in the world, connecting over 50 million users at 10,000 institutions across Europe and supporting all scientific disciplines.

The new issue of CONNECT (the magazine from the GÉANT Community) is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of cybersecurity and the role of quantum communication technologies in protecting our networks.

Read the full issue here: https://connect.geant.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GEANT_CONNECT_44_How-do-GEANT-and-the-NRENs-support-Open-Science.pdf