SPTel, SpeQtral and ST Engineering Held Successful Trial for Quantum-Secure Networks to Enable Robustly Secure Digital Communications

SPTel and SpeQtral announced today their success on initial trials toward setting up Quantum-Secure Networks on SPTel’s diverse fibre network, in the first among such trials in Singapore. SpeQtral conducted the trial using ST Engineering’s quantum-enabled encryptors and Toshiba Digital Solutions’ (“Toshiba”) Quantum Key Distribution (“QKD”) system over SPTel’s diverse fibre network. The successful trial paves the way for robustly secure digital communications.

QKD focuses on securing communications through the distribution of encryption keys. These keys are particularly sensitive and distributed via light particles. Users will know when the encryption keys distributed via QKD are tampered by unauthorised parties or obtained by eavesdroppers. ST Engineering’s comprehensive suite of Common Criteria Certified Encryptors has been designed to fit seamlessly to protect any operating architecture. While the encryption relies on keys to be distributed to each encryptor, the traditional mathematical-based key distribution technology may be vulnerable to attacks from quantum computers. QKD is a proven technology to mitigate this.

This successful trial validates the operations of Toshiba’s QKD technology on a single pair of SPTel fibre, as well as its interfacing with the key retrieval process of ST Engineering’s quantum-enabled encryptors. It demonstrates the stability of key distribution rates and the robustness of the key distribution processes. Any attempts to eavesdrop will result in detectable anomalies and render these keys invalid, ensuring that distributed keys always remain secret between sending and receiving parties. The success in the additional test to multiplex SPTel’s Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (“DWDM”) data [transmitted over 1550nm (C-Band)] and QKD channels over a single pair of SPTel fibre across 55km also paves the way for the integration of QKD to SPTel’s high-capacity Data Centre Interconnect (“DCI”) services available across all major commercial data centres, to provide customers with quantum-safe data transmission for highly secure applications. 

To date, SPTel has connected 90% of Singapore’s commercial data centres. By saving on the need to have a separate fibre for QKD signals, SPTel delivers a more cost effective QKD-enabled network for customers. “Introducing quantum-secured network services across our diverse network will be critical in supporting our customers at the forefront of safeguarding their data for a quantum future. With SPTel operating more than double the number of exchanges/network hubs compared to existing telcos, such secure pervasive edge hubs across the island can be used as intermediate nodes to create a high-capacity QKD-secured DWDM network to extend the effective transmission distance. 

This opens opportunities for enterprises or government agencies to enable quantum-secure encrypted data transmission across SPTel’s reliable fibre network to communicate highly confidential information with certainty of digital security,” said Titus Yong, CEO, SPTel. Chune Yang Lum, Co-founder and CEO of SpeQtral said, “SpeQtral sees QKD as a key component of the strategy and vision toward global quantum networks, and this successful QKD trial in partnership with SPTel forms the foundation to deploy quantum-secure networks for enterprises and governmental agencies in Singapore. We are very glad to have SPTel as a partner as they bring the network knowledge and enterprise customers into this collaboration, and the SpeQtral team looks forward to working closely with SPTel in bridging QKD technology and network infrastructure.”

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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 speqtral.space. About SPTel

SPTel is a joint venture company of ST Engineering and SP Group. SPTel uses unique fibre pathways that combine leased SP Group infrastructure and owned fibre pipes, laid alongside the power network cables. Through this, SPTel provides a differentiated design and diverse business class digital network solution for discerning, best-in-class enterprises, and mission critical businesses. For more information, please visit www.sptel.com.