China Establishes Quantum Communication Link with South Africa

China has initiated an ultra-secure quantum key distribution link with South Africa, extending secure communication into the southern hemisphere. This achievement, announced by professor Yin Juan, enhances the global pursuit of secure communications, with the communications spanning 12,800 kilometers. The project is part of China’s ongoing efforts to harness quantum technology, following previous successful transmissions via the Mozi satellite.

China has successfully established a quantum key distribution link with South Africa, marking the first instance of ultra-secure communication in the southern hemisphere. This advancement is crucial in the pursuit of developing ultra-secure communication services, which aim to prevent hacking of sensitive information, such as financial and national defense communications. Yin Juan, a professor of experimental physics at the University of Science and Technology of China, announced this milestone during the annual plenary meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

The groundbreaking quantum communication demonstration spans 12,800 kilometers (approximately 7,954 miles) from Beijing to South Africa, utilizing China’s innovative quantum communication satellites. Yin emphasized that this is the first implementation of secure quantum key distribution in the southern hemisphere. Yin, who played a pivotal role as the chief payload designer for the Mozi satellite, highlighted that this satellite launched in 2016 to initiate long-distance quantum transmissions.

In 2017, the Mozi satellite facilitated a significant achievement by enabling a secure “quantum call” along with the transfer of images between China and Austria, covering a distance of 7,600 kilometers, thereby setting a precedent for future intercontinental quantum communication advancements.

In summary, China’s establishment of a quantum key distribution link with South Africa not only signifies a major step towards secure communication in the southern hemisphere but also highlights China’s dominance in quantum technology. This development promises to secure crucial communications against potential hacking, advancing global efforts towards ultra-secure communication services.

Original Source: www.scmp.com