ID Quantique and Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPCO) announce they have completed the construction of the first power communication network secured by quantum cryptography in Korea
ID Quantique and Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPCO) announce they have completed the construction of the first power communication network secured by quantum cryptography in Korea
ID Quantique (IDQ), the world leader in Quantum Safe security solutions, and Korea Electric Power Research Institute (KEPCO) announce they have established a power communication network that features quantum cryptography. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is being used to secure a 40km section of network between Anmyeon substation and Taean substation in South Chungcheong Province. Designed to prevent hacking or cyber-attacks, this is the first implementation of QKD on an optical ground wire (OPGW) to secure the network in Korea.
In a digitally connected world, power generation and utilities companies form an essential part of our critical national infrastructure. High speed communications networks are used to connect assets to real-time command and control systems. A prime target for cyber-terrorists, these networks require optimal security to protect the integrity, confidentiality and authenticity of data.
The impact of a successful attack on utility networks could be catastrophic, from preventing community access to essential services to crippling national healthcare and public transport systems. In extreme cases, they could have a profound economic impact and even pose an existential threat. As the risks associated with securing critical infrastructure are great, they are justifiably drawing the attention of cybersecurity experts.
ID Quantique’s QKD system is being used to guarantee stability through the ‘unreplicable principle’ that arbitrary quantum states are not perfectly duplicated. In addition, when an eavesdropper acquires information in the middle of a track, a change in quantum state is caused by an “overlapping of photons,” which changes the communication content, allowing users to observe the eavesdropping. The Korea Electric Power Research Institute is now planning to develop quantum cryptography between KEPCO’s ICT Naju Data Center and ICT’s Daejeon Data Center in 2021.
“In the future, if smart grids where electricity producers and consumers exchange information are expanded, the security of power communication networks will become even more important” said an official at the Korea Power Institute. “We will do our best to develop technologies to strengthen the security of power grids in the future.”
“Alongside government and financial services network data, we see critical infrastructure as a key area for cyber-attacks” said Grégoire Ribordy, CEO and co-founder of ID Quantique. “It is essential that such infrastructures remain secure, even in an era, when quantum computers put current cryptographic techniques at risk. We believe that quantum cryptographic solutions have a very important role to play in this context.”
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