For the first time in Italy, a solution for the quantum distribution of cryptographic keys has been tested on an operating network – the data network of the TOP-IX Consortium – to enhance cyber security services. The experimentation involved TOP-IX, Italtel, the National Institute of Metrological Research (INRiM) and CSI Piemonte, with the scientific advice of Prof. Paolo Martelli of Politecnico di Milano’s Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria and the spin-off Cohaerentia.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) leverages the fundamental principles of physics to make communications more secure and counter increasingly powerful computers that undermine the security of more traditional methods of key exchange for encryption.

QKD allows to distribute symmetric cryptographic keys to obtain an absolute level of confidentiality on the transmitted data. Regardless of the computational power of the opponent, the key is able to withstand any type of attack, classical or quantum. In addition, by analyzing the transmission parameters, it is possible to monitor the security status of the network and find out in real time if unauthorized access attempts to data are in progress.

The tested system is the new Italtel Quantum Secure Network solution, consisting of a transmitter (Alice) and a QKD receiver (Bob), which were installed at the ends of a fiber optic link by connecting three datacenters on an operating network: ITGates , Colt and CSI Piemonte.

The experimentation was made possible thanks to Italtel's technological partnership with the National Institute of Metrological Research (INRiM), for its research on the innovative use of optical fiber with its Italian Quantum Backbone and the design of a European architecture of quantum communication (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure) and with the scientific consultancy of the Politecnico di Milano and its spin-off Cohaerentia, which integrated the QKD devices installed in the datacenters.