The international arm of Telecom Italia used the tech to secure an IPsec tunnel, which it claims is a first, between Italy and Germany
Sparkle and Arqit Quantum, which specialises in quantum encryption, say they have completed a proof of concept (PoC), the first such trial on an Internet Protocol secure (IPsec) tunnel.
The tunnel was between Italy and Germany and used Arqit’s Symmetric Key Agreement Platform. The test was supported by Telsy, TIM group’s cybersecurity unit.
The PoC integrated Arqit Quantum’s technology into Sparkle’s network using Symmetric Key Agreement (SKA) to secure data transmission across geographical borders.
The parties claim, “This marks the creation of a software quantum-safe Virtual Private Network (VPN), standing as a pivotal moment in network security”.
Being software based, the SKA Platform can scale across any telecom network, protecting data against the potential threat of decryption by quantum algorithms in the future.
Daniele Mancuso, Sparkle’s Chief Marketing & Product Management Officer, said, “The successful completion of the quantum-safe VPN PoC, preliminary to a large-scale commercial launch, anticipates the potential threat of quantum decryption and confirms our market leading commitment to continuously elevating the security and resilience of Sparkle’s infrastructure.”
David Williams, Arqit Founder, Chairman and CEO, added,“Sparkle’s establishment of the first quantum-safe VPN between Catania and Frankfurt signifies a key milestone in telecoms cybersecurity. By leveraging Arqit’s SKA Platform, Sparkle is pioneering a new era of secure communication, ensuring the resilience of critical networks against the looming threat of quantum adversaries.”