Quantum cryptography commercialized
Since 2004, 41 partners from 12 European countries have been aiding the University of Bristol in being the first to commercialize quantum cryptography. The cryptographic devices which are capable of interfacing with traditional networking equipment are now running on six Siemens Austria-provided fiber nodes between 6km and 82km in length.
Dubbed — and rightly so — an unbreakable cryptosystem, quantum cryptography has long been the Holy Grail of encryption as attempts to break the system unavoidably leaves signs of tampering behind. According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, the observation of atomic motion fundamentally alters the characteristics of an atomic state which makes it incredibly easy to identify and reject data that has been tampered with.
The world’s first quantum encrypted network will be discussed and demonstrated tomorrow (10 October) at 8:00 UTC via the SECOQC site.
Pretty huge development. Although I wonder what happens if this becomes consumer-available...hello privacy.