on 24-04-2025
Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) and the University of Aveiro presented the Secure Quantum Network of Aveiro on April 24. The initiative is part of the PTQCI project - Portuguese Quantum Communications Infrastructure - and featured a demonstration of the pilot version of the National Quantum Network, highlighting the potential of secure communications and computing based on quantum technologies.
The demonstration network is composed of five nodes: four located in the campus of the University of Aveiro, in the Departments of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, in the Department of Physics, and in two buildings of IT, and a fifth node installed at the headquarters of Altice Labs, outside the university campus. The distribution of cryptographic keys through quantum technology guarantees encrypted message transmissions between different domains, confirming its potential for communication solutions that are highly resistant to any cryptographic attack.
This step represents a significant advance in the construction of telecommunications infrastructures supported by quantum technology, capable of being integrated into complex systems and ensuring a high level of protection for sensitive communications. The robustness and versatility of the solution demonstrate its value in contexts that require maximum security, with emphasis on applications in the field of National Defense.
The formal session was held at the Amphitheater of IT Aveiro, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, and included a visit to the central node of the network. Among the guests were Prof. Paulo Jorge Ferreira, Rector of the University of Aveiro, Contra-Almirante António Gameiro Marques, Director-General, National Security Office, Dr. Marcelino Pousa, Director-General, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Prof. Armando Nolasco Pinto, UA & IT, and Dr. Catarina Cabral Bastos, Deimos Engineering.
Project link: https://www.it.pt/Projects/Index/4845