Recently, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), one of the world’s three major international standardization organizations, approved and released the international standard “Security Requirements for Quantum Key Distribution Node Protection.” This marks the first comprehensive global standard addressing the secure deployment of trusted relay nodes for quantum secure communication networks, providing guidance for their implementation and operation. Led by National University of Singapore, the standard was jointly developed by QuantumCTek, QuantumShield, and several other entities.
01
Fiber Optic Attacks
Global cybersecurity faces increasingly sophisticated threats, including covert and efficient methods for network eavesdropping and data theft. Alongside diverse and complex hacker attack techniques, a new type of threat—fiber optic attacks—is being increasingly utilized.
Over the past decade, fiber optic communication, known for its high speed, large capacity, and low loss characteristics, has become integral to modern communication networks between the internet, telecommunications, and data centers. However, exposure of these communication methods to optic attack technologies has revealed vulnerabilities.
A fiber optic attack involves damaging or intercepting signals within fiber optic communication systems. By bending fiber optic cables to refract faint light signals and using specialized equipment with laser technology to capture and reconstruct these signals, attackers can eavesdrop on communication content.
Another method involves injecting false or disruptive signals into fiber optics, potentially altering data or causing communication errors. Hackers may also use Optical Time Domain Reflectometers (OTDR) to remotely detect the physical layout of fiber optic networks, identifying node locations for physical damage or precise attacks.
James Baumford, a U.S. national security expert, revealed that the U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine “Jimmy Carter” possesses capabilities to intercept undersea cable communications.
Since the rapid development of laser and fiber optic technologies in the 1980s, fiber optic attacks have gradually emerged. These attacks intercept and decode optical signals remotely, posing a serious threat to national security and critical infrastructure, challenging existing network security defenses.
02
“One-Time Pad” Ensuring Security
To counter these threats, researchers are developing encryption technologies and physical layer security solutions for fiber optic communication to establish stronger defense mechanisms.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, based on quantum mechanics, is at the forefront of practical quantum information technologies. It ensures secure key transmission through physical principles, leveraging quantum randomness and the inability to be observed, such as in the famous “Schrodinger’s cat” experiment.
In simple terms, QKD transmits key information through quantum states (often photon polarization or photon number states). Sending and receiving parties exchange quantum states and use quantum properties to detect eavesdropping attempts. If a third party is detected trying to obtain information, both parties immediately notice and discard that portion of the key. Ultimately, they share an absolutely secure key for encrypting and decrypting subsequent communication content.
In contrast, traditional cryptography relies on explicit rules, vulnerable to being deciphered if these rules are intercepted or brute-forced, especially as quantum computing advances. Quantum key generation utilizes quantum randomness, ensuring unpredictability and creating an unobservable state, implementing a secure mechanism for data transmission.
03
Expanding Security Distances
Quantum secure communication networks based on trusted relays represent the only widely adopted long-distance fiber optic quantum secure communication network solution. China’s National Quantum Secure Communication Backbone Network, Europe’s pan-European quantum secure communication network, and the U.S. East Coast quantum secure communication network have all expanded coverage through trusted relay deployment.
However, due to signal loss, current point-to-point fiber optic QKD security distances are on the order of hundreds of kilometers. Thus, ensuring the security of trusted relays and other nodes is fundamental to maintaining the overall security of long-distance quantum secure communication networks.
The newly released international standard specifies the types of security threats facing related nodes, proposes security requirements and specific measures, and provides authoritative guidance for designing and evaluating the security of quantum secure communication networks globally. It is expected to promote the construction of quantum secure communication networks worldwide and facilitate mutual promotion between standards and applications.
04
Chinese Influence in International Standards
As a critical technology safeguarding information security, the development of quantum secure communication standards has garnered widespread attention. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, entities such as China National Institute of Quantum, Quantum Shield, the three major telecom operators, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Jinan Quantum Institute, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Beijing University of Science and Technology have participated as key players in the formulation of multiple ITU standards related to quantum secure communication networks.
During the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group 13 meeting from March 4 to 15, 2024, China Telecommunications Research Institute led the new project proposal “Quantum Key Distribution Network—Service-aware Framework,” which was approved. Simultaneously, new project proposals “Quantum Key Distribution and IPSec Integrated Framework” and “Quantum Key Distribution Network—Functional Architecture for Autonomous Quality of Service Assurance” were jointly proposed by China Telecommunications Research Institute, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, also gaining approval.
According to a July report by international financial services giant Morgan Stanley on “Quantum-Safe Network Development,” Chinese companies can contribute genuine quantum technology expertise and experience to international standardization organizations, potentially gaining competitive advantages in the long run. Experts from QuantumCTek expressed that China holds leading technological advantages and engineering experience in the field of quantum secure communication, poised to continue playing a greater role in relevant international standardization efforts.
Source: vittimes
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