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Orange is to lead an army of computing startups, academia and business institutions to fortify the European comms infrastructure (EuroQCI) against the worst aspects of the quantum computing era. Luminaries including Airbus, CNRS, Cryptonext Security, Orange, Telecom Paris, Thales, Thales Alenia Space, Veriqloud and Welinq will help to develop new quantum computing security options. Academic and civil servants at Sorbonne Université, Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile and Université Côte d’Azur will advise on securing communications and data for critical infrastructures and government institutions.
As the only telco, France’s flagship operator Orange, owner of integrator and service provider Orange Business Services, has been appointed co-ordinator of the entire FranceQCI consortium. “The FranceQCI consortium’s objective is to drive a significant impulse towards a European quantum communication infrastructure that can safeguard sensitive data and critical communications for governmental institutions, data centres, hospitals and energy grids. We are delighted to benefit from fundings from the European Union through the Digital Europe Program to contribute to one of the main pillars of the EU’s cybersecurity strategy,” said Michaël Trabbia, pictured, the CEO of Orange Wholesale and interim Orange Group Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, representing all members of the France QCI consortium.
France QCI represents a first step towards a European quantum comms infrastructure that could be implemented with cross-border links to connect similar networks in other countries, either through terrestrial fibre links or space connectivity. It’s hoped the project will pave the way towards the future European Quantum Information Network (QIN).
FranceQCI’s objective is to deploy advanced national quantum systems and networks to test quantum communication technologies and integrate them into existing communication networks in France. Orange said FranceQCI will capitalise on existing infrastructures in the Paris (ParisRegionQCI) and Nice (Quantum@UCA/Nice) areas to progress towards operational Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) services and contribute to the development of the European technological autonomy. A quantum network will also be implemented in Toulouse DGAC/DSNA/DTI lab to test an end-user service for the French Civil Aviation Authority. It will consist of exchanging simulated operational air traffic control data secured by QKD.
FranceQCI is composed of Airbus Defense and Space, Orange, Thales and Thales Alenia Space as leading industrial partners. Start ups Cryptonext Security, VeriQloud and WeLinQ are expected to provide the dynamism and creativity. The French civil aviation authority’s air traffic control service, Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne – DSNA, joins the project as a public institution to allow the consortium to test realistic use-cases. Researchers at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne University, Université Côte d’Azur and Télécom Paris will build a training environment for all stakeholders in France including research staff, engineers, end-users from public and private entities.