SpeQtral and RHEA Group partner to develop first quantum- safe link between Singapore and Europe

Under the strategic partnership, RHEA System Luxembourg will leverage SpeQtral’s quantum satellite that will be launched in 2024 to build a quantum safe link between Singapore and Europe.

As part of its strategy to build a global quantum-safe network, SpeQtral, a Singapore-based company focused on quantum communications, today announced a strategic partnership with RHEA System Luxembourg (“RHEA”), a Luxembourg-based cybersecurity infrastructure and engineering company, to establish one of the first satellite-based quantum-safe links between Singapore and Europe.

Under the agreement, RHEA will leverage SpeQtral’s upcoming satellite, SpeQtral-1, which will be launched in 2024 to demonstrate intercontinental Quantum Key Distribution (“QKD”) and to exchange encryption keys between Singapore and the European Space Agency’s (“ESA”) member states. This could potentially allow any quantum-safe metropolitan network in Singapore to connect with operational European networks and quantum communication infrastructure in Luxembourg, Canada, and Belgium.

This latest partnership is born out of RHEA’s broader three-year programme INT-UQKD, designed to develop and demonstrate international use cases for QKD in operational IT environments. Supported by ESA’s ARTES programme and Singapore’s Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn), this partnership programme further augments SpeQtral’s capabilities to provide customised QKD technology to its customers on a global scale.

Beyond the immediate scope of this QKD project, the companies also signed a broader collaboration agreement to investigate the combination of SpeQtral’s quantum-safe cryptographic solutions with RHEA’s cybersecurity solution suite and service offerings, to be jointly marketed to prospective end users in Europe and APAC.

Lum Chune Yang, CEO, SpeQtral, said, “SpeQtral is working with partners around the world to provide customised QKD solutions for organisations that require unique and secure data connectivity configurations to counter rising quantum threats. Our partnership with RHEA strengthens our international strategy and helps us to take Singapore’s quantum-safe network to an international level. We look forward to building and deploying quantum-safe communication links and cybersecurity solutions with RHEA to serve both the APAC and European markets.”

Pascal Rogiest, Chief Strategy Officer & Cybersecurity Division Managing Director, RHEA Group, added, “We are excited to deepen our partnership with SpeQtral to develop an operational quantum safe link between Singapore and Europe and build a joint cybersecurity portfolio. Leveraging both space and ground segment developments, the proposed quantum secure link will be the first between Singapore and Europe and will provide users of critical infrastructures with a secure platform and operational safety. This will support international financial services and data centres in enhancing the security of their communications across borders.”

Elodie Viau, Director, Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, ESA, said, "We are very excited to see this strategic agreement take shape following the kick-off of INT-UQKD earlier this year. INT-UQKD is an excellent materialisation of the Memorandum of Intent that ESA signed with OSTIn last year, for joint cooperation. The programme is set to play a crucial contribution to the development of our QKD capabilities and as part of that, the partnership between RHEA and SpeQtral is an important step toward more secure international exchanges for Europe and Asia-Pacific, and ultimately a safer society. Cooperating with industry leaders such as SpeQtral and international players such as OSTIn is essential to develop QKD solutions that respond to real-life requirements and to go to market with viable business proposals.”

David Tan, Executive Director, OSTIn, said, “This collaboration between SpeQtral and RHEA is testament to the deep technical capabilities of Singapore’s space start-ups, as well as our expertise in quantum technologies. This capability has been built up through investments in quantum research over the past two decades with scalable commercial applications in mind. OSTIn looks forward to more partnerships with ESA to further explore the potential of space-based technologies.”

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About SpeQtral

SpeQtral is a pioneer in quantum communications, with a vision to build and deploy global quantum networks. SpeQtral develops quantum-secure products and services designed to protect sovereign and enterprise telecommunication networks against classical, as well as future quantum based cyber-attacks. Combining both terrestrial and space-based solutions, SpeQtral aims to secure the world’s networks against the threats posed by the imminent quantum revolution and drive innovation in quantum communications that will serve as the building blocks for the future quantum internet.

For more information, please visit: https://speqtral.space/

About RHEA System

RHEA Group is a privately-owned professional engineering and solutions company, providing bespoke engineering solutions, system development and security services for space, military, government and other critical infrastructures. Since its creation in 1992, RHEA has built a reputation as a trusted partner, developing tailored solutions that help drive organizational and cultural initiatives, leading to sustainable added value for its customers. Headquartered in Belgium, RHEA Group employs over 900 people and has offices in Belgium, UK, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Canada, and works at client premises throughout Europe and North America. RHEA is ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified.

For more information, please visit: www.rheagroup.com

For media queries, please contact:

For SpeQtral:
Joanne Liao
joanne@speqtral.space
+65 93695066
Rachel Goh
rachel@speqtral.space
+65 9733 0615

Edelman Singapore for SpeQtral:
Hoong Huifang
Huifang.hoong@edelman.com
+65 9128 0762
Lim Yi Xin
Yixin.lim@edelman.com
+65 9858 2642