Thales Alenia Space to lead space-to-Earth quantum comms technologies project

This contract is part of ESA’s ARTES 4.0 Core Competitiveness programme element2 and supported by the space agencies of France and Austria.

The TeQuantS project intends to develop quantum technologies for cybersecurity applications and future quantum information networks that will enable Thales Alenia Space and its partners to build satellites and optical ground stations by the end of 2026.

According to ESA, the quantum computers that are currently being developed will eventually be able to crack the cryptographic systems used by today’s classical computers, which requires Europe to develop a cryptography capability based on the quantum properties of light.

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Ground-based fibre-optic links transmitting quantum information are limited to a range of about 150km, which makes satellites the best solution for long-distance quantum communications.

The main cybersecurity challenge is to generate secure cryptographic keys (strings of data used to lock or unlock cryptographic functions, including authentication, authorization and encryption) using the quantum properties of light and distribute them to users anywhere globally.

Thales Alenia Space said the key challenge for quantum information networks is to enable future quantum computers and sensors to communicate with each other and fulfil their promised exponential gains in performance.

The TeQuantS project will draw on the expertise of a consortium composed of fellow prime Airbus Defence and Space, seven smaller firms and start-ups (ALPAO, AUREA Technology, BERTIN Technologies, MIRATLAS, OGS Technologies, QTlabs and SIGMAWORKS), plus the LIP6 and INPHYNI research labs at Sorbonne University and Côte d’Azur University/CNRS respectively.

Since 2018, Thales Alenia Space has been rolling out its roadmap to develop mature end-to-end quantum communications, notably through projects initiated by the European Commission (OPENQKD, QSAFE) and ESA (SAGA). With this roadmap, fully aligned with that of the TeQuantS project, Thales Alenia Space is focusing on satellites along with ground stations and complete mission segments.

In a statement, Javier Benedicto, acting director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, said: “Supporting European autonomy, leadership and responsibility in today’s digital world is becoming increasingly important. We are proud to be working with the consortium led by Thales Alenia Space to ensure that European citizens will continue to benefit from space-based secure connectivity in everyday life on Earth.”