Scientists of payment processing center started the Russia's first heterogeneous quantum network

2017: Scientists of payment processing center started the Russia's first heterogeneous quantum network

Scientists of Russian Quantum Center constructed and tested the Russia's first multinodal heterogeneous quantum data network where two encoding techniques of information are used at the same time that allows to adapt quantum methods of protection for the existing cryptographic platforms.

"Methods of quantum data protection are well fulfilled in vitro, but at their transfer on the existing telecommunication and cryptographic infrastructure there is a set of problems, in particular, when using real city communication lines. In our experiment we managed to solve successfully one of them – use in one network of two different encoding techniques of information", – one of authors of a research, the research associate of payment processing center Alexey Fedorov says.

Data protection and information security became one of is paramount important tasks – leak and theft of data repeatedly led in recent years to large-scale political crises. The modern cryptographic systems have one unremovable vulnerability — they require transfer of a key. If the malefactor overhears" this transfer, the cipher becomes useless.

Quantum data networks can solve this problem. For data exchange within this technology single photons which statuses irrevocably change as soon as someone tries "read" them are used. Therefore imperceptibly it is impossible "overhear" information which is transferred on these channels. The systems of quantum communication are developed in Europe, in China, in the USA.

The Russian Quantum Center in June, 2016 started the Russia's first quantum network on the normal city fiber optic channel – the 30-kilometer line connected two departments of Gazprombank in Moscow.

Now scientists of payment processing center created the quantum network consisting of three nodes and two quantum channels connected with each other by "the entrusted repeater". Quantum secure communication in itself can be established only directly between two points. If the network has complex structure, then "quantum sections" of network need to be connected with each other by nodes with repeaters in which "normal" methods of data processing are used.

"Demonstration experiments on quantum communications in the network mode are made on lines of Gazprombank. In the future network solutions will allow to realize in the best way the potential of quantum communications", – the CEO of payment processing center Yunusov Ruslan emphasizes.

Both quantum channels of network were created on sections of normal fiber optic networks in Moscow, one of them had length of 30 kilometers, the second – 15 kilometers. On the first of sections data were coded using polarization of photons, on the second – in their phase. During the experiment generation rate of the sifted key on the first section made 0.1 kilobits per second, generation rate of the secret key suitable for enciphering, – 0.02 kilobits per second. On the second section based on the phase encoding technique, generation rate of secret key made 0.1 kilobits per second.

Alexey Fedorov emphasizes that application of two encoding techniques within one network allows to use already existing software solutions and platforms for processing and data encryption, saves from need to develop new products, and just to build in quantum channels the existing telecommunication infrastructure. "Such generation rate of a key is enough for updating of keys in the existing enciphering devices. In future experiments generation rate can be increased", – he noted.

"Each of encoding schemes has the advantage. In particular, the polarizing scheme developed by us is very perspective in terms of miniaturization of devices quantum communications", - the head of group of quantum communications of payment processing center Yury Kurochkin reports.

Work on the system of quantum communication in Russian Quantum Center was begun in 2014 with assistance of Gazprombank and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Investments into the project make about 450 million rubles. Professor Alexander Lvovsky became the research supervisor of the project.

2016: Gazprombank used quantum technologies for transfer of a cryptokey

On June 16, 2016 it became known of the beginning of use of the line of the protected quantum communication in Gazprombank. Technology connection is executed with participation of the Russian Quantum Center (RQC)^[1].

For connection of two buildings in Moscow the bank used the 30-kilometer line of quantum communication and special devices developed by payment processing center. For information transfer laws of a quantum mechanics according to which the transmitted data is lost forever if someone tries to read it are used.

Office of Gazprombank, (2014)

In Gazprombank on the quantum channel transfer cryptographic key. It is so possible to bypass unremovable vulnerability of the traditional cryptographic systems – need of transfer of an encryption key from one interlocutor to another. If the malefactor manages to learn a key, enciphering loses meaning.

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