In Bonn, two German federal authorities communicated quantum-securely for the first time. The QuNET initiative uses the latest quantum technology to protect communication systems against the cyber attacks of tomorrow.
The test route between the Bonn headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), which was set up on August 10 as part of the QuNET initiative, connected Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek with BSI Vice President Gerhard Schabhüser in a video conference .
State-of-the-art quantum technology for communication
The QuNET initiative uses the latest quantum technology to protect communication systems against the cyber attacks of tomorrow. The focus of the initiative is research on the so-called quantum key distribution (QKD). This refers to processes for generating cryptographic keys that are based on the use of light and quantum physics. If an attacker tries to access the key used for data transmission, the light particles are manipulated. This manipulation can be detected by the sender and receiver and an attempt at eavesdropping can be prevented.
The Fraunhofer Society, the Max Planck Society and the German Aerospace Center are participating in the research initiative funded by the BMBF. The BSI is also involved in the development.
More at BSI.bund.de