The South-East Europe to Western Europe Quantum Communication Infrastructure (SEEWQCI) project officially launches its activities on 26-27 February 2026 in Athens, marking a major milestone in Europe’s effort to build secure digital communications.
The project represents the next implementation phase of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). Following the deployment of National Quantum Communication Infrastructures (NatQCIs) across Member States, the focus now moves toward interconnecting these networks, validating interoperability, and delivering cross-border quantum communication services.
SEEWQCI is a landmark cross-border initiative that interconnects the National Quantum Communication Infrastructures of Greece (HellasQCI), Cyprus (CYQCI), Bulgaria (BGQCI) and the Netherlands (NL-QCI), establishing a scalable quantum corridor for secure data transmission across South-Eastern and Western Europe.
SEEWQCI establishes a 1,100 km cross-border terrestrial QKD backbone between Greece and Bulgaria, positioning Greece as the gateway of the South-East Europe Quantum Corridor and laying the foundation for expansion toward Central and Western Europe. In parallel, the project deploys satellite and hybrid quantum connectivity through five Optical Ground Stations, enabling space-based links between Greece, the Netherlands, and Cyprus, as well as hybrid terrestrial–space connections between Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Cyprus via Greece.
Building Europe’s Quantum-Secure Backbone
As part of the second implementation phase of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), SEEWQCI contributes to a continental network combining:
- Terrestrial quantum-secure fibre links, including the Greece–Bulgaria corridor
- Space-based quantum communications, via Optical Ground Stations in Greece, Cyprus and the Netherlands
- Integration with the European EAGLE-1 quantum satellite, extending secure communications beyond terrestrial limits
This hybrid terrestrial-space architecture will enable the secure transmission of sensitive data.
Project Scale & European Cooperation
SEEWQCI is implemented by a consortium of 15 core partners and 7 supporting organisations from Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the Netherlands, including:
- Ministries and National Security Authorities
- Security Operations Centres (SOCs)
- Research & Technology Organisations
- Industrial partners
The project will deploy a 1,100 km terrestrial QKD corridor, integrate five Optical Ground Stations, and implement more than 29 quantum-secure use cases across over 35 trusted nodes, testing terrestrial, satellite and hybrid connectivity scenarios.
Kick-off Meeting Programme Highlights
The opening session includes remarks from government representatives, national authorities, research organisations and the European Commission.
Two high-level panels will take place:
High-Level Institutional Panel (10:40–11:10)
Focus: EuroQCI strategic dimension,
EuroQCI CEF Projects Panel (12:40–13:10)
Focus: coordination among parallel CEF quantum infrastructure projects, cross-border cooperation and interoperability.
Representatives from multiple EuroQCI projects -including TransEuroOGS, SBIQCI, BAT-QCI, QUAPITAL, PIONIER-Q-SAT, ROGS, IberianQCI, QRUSOE, BeneluxQCI, QCI-AT-CZ-PL & QCI-SK-CZ-PL, CEQCI- will participate, highlighting the cohesion of Europe’s quantum ecosystem.
This collective presence reinforces mutual trust, cross-border alignment, and coordinated implementation across Member States, while positioning Greece as a reliable and active hub within the evolving EuroQCI initiative.
SEEWQCI within EuroQCI & Europe’s Digital Decade
SEEWQCI aligns with the EuroQCI vision to protect communications, sensitive data and critical infrastructure using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) – a quantum physics-based technology capable of detecting interception attempts. The initiative supports the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 objective to lead global quantum capabilities.
Useful links
Find the Kick-off meeting’s full Agenda here.
Join the event’s livestream via DIAVLOS here.
