The security of current encryption technologies relies on computational hardness assumptions. In the near future advances in computing, combined with ever more sophisticated attacks from different sources, could put at risk the security of telecom and data communication networks. As a results, Europe’s communications networks and the sensitive data that they transmit could become extremely vulnerable. In order to find solutions to these issues, the European Commission is working with Member States as well as the European Space Agency, towards the deployment of a secure quantum communication infrastructure (EuroQCI) spanning the EU.

IrelandQCI, the €10 million Ireland Quantum Communications Infrastructure (QCI) project is co-funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the EU. The aim of IrelandQCI is to ensure our communications infrastructure is secure and future-proofed against the rising threat of cyber-attacks similar to the HSE hack that crippled and showcased the vulnerability of trusted systems. Researchers and engineers are establishing a quantum key distribution (QKD) backbone from Dublin to Cork via Waterford using dark fibre integrated with existing classical fibre systems. We are trialling 16 quantum security technology scenarios with key stakeholders across our public, industry and academic sectors over the next two years. Waterford’s Walton Institute, in South East Technological University (SETU), is leading the IrelandQCI project, on behalf of SFI CONNECT. Other key partners include specialists in quantum technologies in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork’s Tyndall National Institute, with support from University College Dublin (UCD) and Maynooth University (MU), the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (University of Galway), as well as HEAnet and ESB Telecoms.