High-speed quantum coder of MSU

Based on the technology created within the project of Fund of perspective researches the high-performance coder with a quantum distribution channel of cryptographic keys for fast and absolutely safe information transfer on fiber optic communication lines will be created.

The high-speed coder which can be used on standard communication lines (air and fiber optic) will be developed by physicists from MSU on the basis of technology which was created and successfully tested within the project of Fund of perspective researches

The physical faculty Lomonosov Moscow State University and JSC Infotecs will develop the high-performance coder with a quantum distribution channel (updating) of cryptographic keys. It will be possible to use the equipment in the distributed data processing centers, at implementation of interbank transactions, on the local and distributed networks of exchange of confidential information and in other spheres and processes requiring high degree of security by transfer of large volumes of data. Creation of this unique equipment will be based on technologies of the quantum communications developed within project implementation of Fund of perspective researches in 2014-2017.

"Technologies of quantum communications reached that maturity when became possible to create the first industrial samples of the commercial products interesting end users. Entry into the civil market will allow to accelerate significantly development of all fields of quantum information processing", – the deputy CEO – the head of information researches FPI Garbuk Sergey comments.

Creation of the high-performance coder was approved in April, 2017 within the competition of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation held for the purpose of support of complex projects on creation of high technology production. The developed equipment will provide absolutely safe information transfer on fiber optic communication lines. The high-performance coder will allow to cipher in the automatic mode information with very high speed (10 Gbit per second), at the same time the quantum distribution channel of cryptographic keys will update their time in several seconds. The possibility of frequent automatic update of keys is the main competitive advantage – at the moment the main cryptographic keys (master keys) of high-performance coders change time in several months. So rare change of keys can lead to the fact that the malefactor has an opportunity to save up enough the data ciphered by the same key to reveal him and to completely compromise a communication channel.

"It is that in Russia industrial equipment for work with technologies of quantum enciphering of information will be for the first time created, and this technology will be scalable and available to use in data processing centers, at bank transfers and in other spheres for which the maximum security of information is critical" - the head of laboratory of quantum optical technologies of MSU Sergey Kulik comments.

Means of safe distribution of cryptographic keys by the unprotected communication lines using quantum technologies were developed within the project of Fund of perspective researches by the laboratory of quantum optical technologies created based on physical faculty Lomonosov Moscow State University and already successfully tested on standard fiber optic communication lines of PJSC Rostelecom in September-October, 2016. During tests using quantum technologies the possibility of safe distribution of cryptographic keys between two cities of the Moscow region – Noginsk and Pavlovsky Posad between which distance makes 32 km was shown. A system worked in completely standalone mode 21 day.

See Also

The technology of quantum distribution of cryptographic keys solves one of the main objectives of cryptography — the distribution of keys guaranteed at the level of fundamental laws of the nature between remote users on open communication links. The cryptographic key is the numerical sequence of a certain length created for enciphering of information. The quantum cryptography allows to provide permanent and automatic change of keys by transfer of each message in the mode of one-time "shifrobloknot": today it is the only type of enciphering with strictly proved cryptographic firmness.

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• Russian Quantum Center (payment processing center, Russian Quantum Center, RQC)