The CZQCI project is part of the pan-European EuroQCI initiative, which aims to build an extremely secure communications infrastructure based on quantum technologies. The goal is to begin constructing a comprehensive communications network after 2030 that will connect institutions of nation-states and the European Union, critical infrastructure, and selected private entities. The launch of the Czech national backbone network is the first step for the Czech Republic. A broad consortium of academic and research organizations, communication infrastructure providers, and partners from government, the armed forces, and the cybersecurity sector is participating in the initiative.
Coordination and integration of the project at the national level is being handled by CyberSecurityHub z.ú., which provides key expertise, connects individual stakeholders, and ensures alignment with European initiatives.
“Building a quantum communications infrastructure is a long-term and complex process that requires close collaboration across academia, research organizations, government, and industry. CZQCI serves as the technological foundation from which the secure communications of the future can emerge, as well as a space for training the next generation of experts in quantum technologies. The newly developed know-how and expertise of the technical teams are key,” said Assoc. Prof. Jan Bouda, CZQCI project coordinator from CyberSecurityHub z.ú.
The Czech Technical University in Prague, represented by the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering (FJFI CTU in Prague) and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL CTU in Prague), also plays a significant role in the project. The solution is primarily being developed by Prof. Igor Jex from FJFI and Assoc. Prof. Leoš Boháč from FEL, who are focusing on both the theoretical foundations of quantum communication and its technological and application aspects.
“CTU’s involvement in building quantum communication infrastructure confirms that Czech technical universities can be full-fledged partners in European technological initiatives. Quantum technologies represent a strategic area that will fundamentally influence Europe’s security and competitiveness in the coming decades,” adds the rector of CTU in Prague, Prof. Michal Pěchouček.
“CTU and the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering (FJFI) have joined a visionary project that opens the door to alternative, extremely secure methods of communication. In the future, networks similar to ours will connect all of Europe. Their capabilities will far exceed those currently available to us. Thanks to this involvement, FJFI is gaining access to the latest technology, integrating into European communications structures, and demonstrating that advanced science can directly serve public administration and the state’s strategic infrastructure,” says Prof. Igor Jex of the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering at CTU.
Quantum communication enables the distribution of encryption keys based on physical principles that make it possible to detect any attempt at eavesdropping.
“As part of the pilot operation, we have already successfully transmitted encryption keys between individual nodes over the quantum network. In standard encryption procedures, the encryption key is generated using mathematical and computational methods. Quantum key distribution separates key transmission from data traffic and transmits keys in the form of quantum signals, making any eavesdropping attempt detectable. This significantly increases the level of security compared to classical cryptographic methods. “The technology is primarily intended for scenarios with high security requirements. These include, for example, critical infrastructure, state and government communications, industrial production data, or data center interconnections,” says Associate Professor Leoš Boháč from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague.
Quantum Technology Studies at CTU
CTU is currently one of the few universities in the Czech Republic to offer a comprehensive educational pathway in the field of quantum technology. As a result, the next generation of experts will gain exposure to the latest trends in communication infrastructure.
Students can choose from the master’s programs in Quantum Technologies and Quantum Informatics, which focus on quantum communication, cryptography, quantum computing, and related topics. Doctoral programs and interdisciplinary research across CTU faculties are also available.
The FEL CTU participates in teaching at the technological, engineering, and applied levels and contributes to the training of experts capable of working with quantum technologies not only in an academic context but also in the context of real-world communication networks and industrial applications.
List of CZQCI Partners
CyberSecurityHubcz, CESNET z.s.p.o., Czech Technical University in Prague, Palacký University in Olomouc, Institute of Instrumentation of the Czech Academy of Sciences, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Brno University of Technology.
Photo: Petr Neugebauer
More photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qd4cgaZDzZ-j7Jszoua3mnwK5M9KC_VC?usp=sharing, Author: Vít Golda, caption: QKD device for quantum-secure communication
Translated with Deepl.com