Slovakia’s First National Quantum Communication Network
ID Quantique (IDQ), a subsidiary of ionQ, announced the deployment of Slovakia’s first national quantum communication network. Developed in partnership with the Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences (IPSAS), the new system features a resilient hybrid architecture designed to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure and support Europe’s quantum digital programs.
The Slovak Quantum Communication Infrastructure (skQCI) project represents a major milestone in Slovakia’s contribution to the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative, which seeks to establish a secure quantum-resistant communication backbone covering all European Union (EU) member states and territories. By integrating quantum-safe technologies at a national scale, Slovakia will directly reinforce the security of its most critical institutions.
“The skQCI project is a strategic milestone in fortifying the digital sovereignty of the EU. By combining IonQ’s quantum-safe networking capabilities with the scientific leadership of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, we are building a secure, resilient, and state-of-the-art quantum communication network that can serve as a model for Europe.”
— Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ
The system will connect multiple metropolitan and remote sites through a state-of-the-art Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) architecture ensuring secure data movement serving four strategic locations. This approach is complemented by a hybrid QKD–PQC (post-quantum cryptography) system for cross-country connection.
“Joining forces on this initiative not only positions Slovakia at the forefront of quantum communication in Europe. But also demonstrates the real-world use cases of integrating innovative quantum technologies across critical national institutions.”
— Mario Ziman, Director at the Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Led by IPSAS, the nation’s premier scientific research institution, with the support of Slovak National Center for Quantum Technologies (QUTE.sk), the project underscores Slovakia’s commitment to strengthening its strategic research and cybersecurity infrastructure. In the metropolitan area of Bratislava, the skQCI initiative will securely interconnect Slovakia’s highly ranked institutions, including the Office of the President (Presidential Palace), the National Security Authority facilities, and the Quantum Pavilion of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
This deployment builds on IonQ’s recent launch of its Geneva Quantum Network in Switzerland connecting academic, government, and industry players. It also reinforces IonQ’s commitment to Europe through its recent announcement to transform Italy into a quantum hub through the Q-Alliance with the Italian government, the designation of Oxford as IonQ’s EMEA headquarters, as well as being named the primary quantum partner for Korea’s National Quantum Center of Excellence.
Slovakia’s First National Quantum Communication Network with Redundant, Hybrid Architecture standing among one of Eastern Europe’s most sophisticated national quantum communication deployments.
Under this deployment, IDQ has provided state-of-the-art 1-to-N QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) architecture, combining a conventional QKD solution switching capability within a central QKD node serving four strategic locations. This metropolitan cluster is complemented by a hybrid QKD–PQC (post-quantum cryptography) system for cross-country connection to another cluster, connecting the Western and Eastern part of Slovakia ensuring high availability of QKD key material with solutions based on post-quantum cryptography across an hybrid national testbed.
“The project is more than a technical achievement — it demonstrates that both, the most mature commercial prepare-and-measure solutions and latest entanglement-based prototypes can coexist in the same infrastructure to address all challenges of future quantum communications networks.”
— Djeylan Aktas, Project leader of the skQCI project at IPSAS
This deployment follows similarly ambitious nationwide quantum projects led by IDQ in Poland, Romania, and in Greece, further solidifying its leadership in quantum communication across Eastern Europe.
About ID Quantique
Founded in 2001, ID Quantique (IDQ) is the world leader in quantum-safe crypto solutions, designed to protect data for the future. The company provides random number generation, quantum-safe security, and quantum detection systems to the financial industry, enterprises, and government organizations globally. IDQ’s quantum random number generator has been validated according to global standards and independent agencies and is the reference in highly regulated and mission-critical industries such as security, encryption, critical infrastructure, and IoT — where trust is paramount.
IDQ’s Quantum Sensing business unit provides photon counting solutions for the visible and near infrared regions of the optical spectrum, pulsed laser sources, counting & timing electronics and photonic sensing solutions for both industrial and research applications in various domains, such as quantum physics, communication, biological and material sciences, defense and security, oil and gas, etc.
To request more information or a quotation for any ID Quantique products, contact IL Photonics.