(BusinessKorea) KT is stepping up efforts to lead standardization of quantum cryptography communication technologies. KT is the only carrier to establish two standards in this field that have been approved by the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
KT is managing six of the 14 quantum technology standardization projects covered by ITU-T Study Group (SG) 13 (future network) and 17 (security). This means that KT is taking the lead in about 40 percent of all standardization R&D activities at the two study groups. Thus far, three standards have been completed, with one managed by SK Telecom and two by KT.
Currently, there are 14 quantum technology standardization projects that have been promoted by the ITU-T. Among them, KT’s open hierarchical structure technology has been approved as the world’s first international standard in the field of quantum cryptographic telecommunications. In addition, KT has also obtained preliminary approval on quantum cryptographic communication network technology.
The standardization work has opened the building a quantum cryptographic communication network to all interested companies, contributing to the expansion of the domestic ecosystem. Previously, foreign manufacturers such as Magic Q in the United States, Toshiba in Japan, and QuantumCtek in China, exclusively built such a network. However, through the standardization of open hierarchies, KT allowed Korean operators to participate freely in the construction of quantum cryptographic telecommunication networks.