Singapore, 8 November 2022
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized a workshop on “
Quantum key distribution protocols, security and certification”
on 8 November 2022 in Singapore. The workshop was kindly hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in partnership with the National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) and National University of Singapore (NUS). The workshop was followed by a
Question 15/17 Rapporteur Group Meeting on “Security for/by emerging technologies including quantum-based security” from 9 to 10 November 2022.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is the core technology in the quantum layer of QKD networks (QKDNs). Since the invention of the first QKD protocol in 1984, there have been numerous efforts and great progress made by the QKD research community and by the industry to advance the development of QKD protocols. In recent years, several standardization activities on QKDN have also been undertaken within ITU-T and other standards developing organizations. Despite these efforts, standards offering guidance on QKD protocols have not yet been established.
This workshop focused on the quantum layer in QKDN and, in particular, the QKD protocol. Its objectives included, but were not limited to;
- identifying gaps, challenges and fundamental requirements for QKD protocol standardization in QKDNs;
- obtaining a better understanding the relationship between the security features, security threats & requirements, testing & evaluation and certification of the QKD protocol;
- developing a common understanding on the need for QKD protocol standardization;
- providing a forum for knowledge sharing on QKDN activities in ITU-T Study Groups 11, 13 and 17, the deliverables relevant to QKDN protocols from the ITU-T Focus Group on Quantum Information Technologies for Networks (FG-QIT4N), as well as activities in other SDOs such as ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC27/WG3, ETSI ISG QKD, with a focus on QKD protocols and certification; and
- exploring opportunities for collaboration and harmonization of standardization activities on the QKD protocol, and its security and certification.
Participation was free of charge and open to all interested stakeholders including ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academic Institutions and to any individual from a country that is a member of ITU and who wished to contribute to the work.
Watch the recording here
