China has launched a quantum key distribution link with South Africa, enhancing secure communication capabilities in the southern hemisphere. This advancement, announced by Yin Juan, a prominent scientist, is a step towards developing global intercontinental communication services that are resistant to hacking.
China has successfully established a quantum key distribution link with South Africa, marking its first foray into ultra-secure communication within the southern hemisphere. This development enhances the prospect of intercontinental communication services that can significantly mitigate the risks of hacking involving sensitive financial or national defense information.
Yin Juan, a deputy at the National People’s Congress and a professor of experimental physics at the University of Science and Technology of China, announced this breakthrough at the NPC’s annual plenary meeting in Beijing. The pioneering demonstration extended over 12,800 kilometers (approximately 7,954 miles) between Beijing and South Africa, facilitated by China’s quantum communication satellites.
Yin emphasized that this marks the inaugural implementation of a secure quantum key distribution experiment within the southern hemisphere. He previously served as the chief payload designer for Mozi, the world’s first quantum communication satellite, which was launched in 2016, enabling long-distance quantum communications. In 2017, scientists using this satellite successfully executed a secure “quantum call” and transmitted images between China and Austria across a distance of 7,600 kilometers.
In conclusion, China’s establishment of a hacker-proof quantum communication link with South Africa represents a significant advancement in secure communications technology. This milestone not only showcases China’s growing capabilities in quantum technology but also opens up avenues for secure long-distance communication across continents, drastically reducing eavesdropping risks on sensitive information.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
