ID Quantique (IDQ), one of the leaders in quantum-safe security solutions, has announced its participation in the EAGLE-1 initiative. EAGLE-1 is a QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) system integrating both space and ground segments that will deliver secure transmission of encryption keys across geographically dispersed areas and demonstrate the connection from space of EU’s national quantum communications infrastructures for truly sovereign networks. 

EAGLE-1 is developed by a consortium of 20 European organizations led by SES and funded, in part, by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. For its part, IDQ will contribute to the development of a space-qualified cryptographic key generation system based on IDQ’s quantum random number generator (QRNG) technology to TESAT, EAGLE-1 consortium member and Europe’s leading laser communication technology company.

TESAT will manufacture the QKD payload comprising the Scalable Optical Terminal SCOT80 to establish a secure optical link from space to ground, as well as the QKD module of the satellite.

To deliver the payload, TESAT selected ID Quantique to contribute to the design and delivery of a space-qualified cryptographic key generation system based on IDQ’s Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) chipsets technology. The high-performance electronic board integrated into the EAGLE-1 QKD payload will generate the random key material that will be further transmitted by the satellite to the ground stations.

The technology integrated into the EAGLE-1 system will include built-in redundancy and is specifically designed to be associated with satellite communications and data transmission for such areas as government, telco operators, cloud providers, and banking, to add guaranteed security of the cryptographic applications.

“We are delighted to bring our expertise in integrating secure technologies, and a track record of almost 80,000 executed optical satellite links for the benefit of this highly-important and timely European project,” said Thomas Reinartz, CEO of TESAT. “The EAGLE-1 system allows for achieving synergies together with leading industry partners, reducing time to service and to market for the quantum secure technologies and its future key users, such as governments and institutions, or banking sector. Together with ID Quantique, we are looking forward to strengthen European collaboration and contributing to European sovereignty in space.”

“Ensuring that communications remain safe is increasingly vital, and even more so with the rapidly-emerging technology of quantum computing,” said Grégoire Ribordy, CEO of ID Quantique. “We are delighted to join this project, by providing our QRNG chipsets and space-qualified electronics that will enable the security of the QKD satellite, and allow the EU Member States to leverage the most innovative technology for development of secure and sovereign networks.”

Click here to learn about ID Quantique's Quantis QRNG Chips.