Quantum Communications in the GCC

Golden Gate Venture's investment in SpeQtral underwrites our fund's commitment to pioneers in quantum communications. SpeQtral develops quantum-secure products and services designed to protect sovereign and enterprise telecommunication networks against classical, as well as future quantum based cyber-attacks. Combining both terrestrial and space-based solutions, SpeQtral aims to secure the world’s networks against the threats posed by the imminent quantum revolution and drive innovation in quantum communications that will serve as the building blocks for the future quantum internet.

Since its founding in 2018, SpeQtral built on and enhanced this core capability with an aim to demonstrate end-to-end space-based QKD for commercial use cases. : QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) is a method which implements a cryptographic protocol that relies on quantum mechanics to encrypt data. Today, networks and data are secured primarily by mathematical-based encryption which is difficult for classical computers to solve but trivial for quantum computers to do so. QKD relies on the laws of quantum physics rather than mathematical based schemes to generate keys that are unhackable by both classical and future quantum-based technologies.

Source: Report In Quantum we trust : Accenture - SpeQtral

In an earlier whitepaper published by SpeQtral and Accenture, the following conclusion was shared:

"Quantum communications broadly refers to the use of quantum channels to perform a communication task. Unlike classical channels, a quantum channel preserves the full quantum state of the information being transferred and thus enables full-fledged networking of quantum resources. For example, if we wanted to transfer the state of a quantum computer to a remote quantum memory, it would need to be done through a channel capable of maintaining the full coherent description of the transmitted state. A more immediate application of quantum communication is the creation and distribution of secure keys, also called quantum cryptography or quantum key distribution (QKD). This is by far the most mature application of quantum technologies and, we are now at a point where a global quantum key distribution network is within technological reach. There is an increased interest and investment in establishing the foundations of future quantum networks between security sensitive sites, or alternatively, between sites that might hold quantum resources (quantum computers, quantum repeaters) in the future.

Increased reliance on cryptographic methods for securing information combined with the rapid pace of development in quantum technologies is highlighting the need to prepare our networks for a post-quantum world. There will be a point at which a practical quantum computer will able to break the security of our current encryption methods, and if by then our basic security infrastructure has not already shifted to a quantum-secure form, it will be too late. The time to look at options for a quantum-safe architecture is at a minimum 10 years ahead of the expected need date.

Quantum Key Distribution provides a quantum-safe mechanism for key delivery that is independent of advances in cryptoanalysis and computing capabilities, whether classical or quantum and is thus not dependent on algorithmic security.

A complex ecosystem of companies that address post-quantum security is emerging and developing rapidly. The constraints that restricted the applicability of QKD over long distances are being overcome with the recent demonstrations of intercontinental QKD based on space platforms. The combination of the quantum engineering aspects with advances in small satellites and space based optical communications are expected to produce a global quantum network, with applications in security, sensing and eventually, computing."

We are seeing an organic increase in interest in quantum communications across the MENA region. Several strategic drivers are telecom adoption, communication for the financial industry, government backed space programs and cybersecurity development. Although the development in the MENA region is nascent, at a CAGR of 32.4% we remain bullish on this sector.

With thanks to Chune Yang (CEO of SpeQtral) and the SpeQtral team