The use of quantum phones in Russia will begin next year, RBC reports. The company InfoTeKS, which is engaged in their production, said that Russian Railways and Gazprom will be the first buyers of such systems. At the moment, both Russian holdings are testing quantum phones, their introduction into company structures may begin in 2023.
A quantum phone is a generic name that includes a workstation with an installed quantum key generation and distribution system, as well as an IP phone with integrated cryptographic protection. To connect, two devices are needed, which must be connected to the distribution node of the quantum network via communication lines with “dark” optics and certain characteristics. During the connection, all traffic is encrypted, so no one can access it. The operation of a quantum phone also requires certain temperature and other conditions. For example, there should not be a sharp temperature drop in the room.
In Russia, such a device is ViPNet QSS, which was developed by the NTI Competence Center on the basis of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov. The phone was first introduced in 2017, and two years later, the developers held a public session of quantum-secure communication. The amount of investments that were then invested in the project amounted to about 700 million rubles. Certification of the domestic quantum cryptographic system took two years, now developers have the right to sell their product.
Currently, ViPNet QSS supports voice transmission and sending files, and soon the system will be able to conduct video conferences. The publication writes that now the cost of a quantum phone is estimated at about 40 million rubles. Protecting one network segment up to 100 km long will cost several tens of millions of rubles, but the cost may decrease if the production volumes of such complexes and the scale of their implementation are increased.
The first customers of the quantum phone will be government agencies and corporations. These are large oil and gas, energy and telecommunications companies, as well as departments involved in ensuring the country’s security. InfoTeKS expects that next year the company will have 10 clients who have expressed a desire to use such communication systems. In addition to Russian Railways and Gazprom, Rostelecom, Rosatom and Sberbank showed interest in the technology of quantum encryption of data transmission channels. In addition, quantum phones will begin to be connected in some educational institutions.
Source: Trash Box
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