In an era where quantum computing is rapidly advancing, the security of satellite communications has become a pressing concern. Recognizing this challenge, three technology companies from different continents—Partisia from Denmark, Squareroot8 from Singapore, and NuSpace from the United States—have formed a strategic alliance to develop quantum-resistant communication solutions for satellite networks.
The Collaborating Entities
– Partisia: A Danish firm specializing in blockchain technology and multi-party computation (MPC), Partisia has been at the forefront of developing secure and privacy-preserving data processing solutions.
– Squareroot8: Based in Singapore, Squareroot8 focuses on quantum-safe communications. The company has developed a single-board device capable of generating quantum random numbers, a critical component for secure cryptographic systems.
– NuSpace: Operating out of Long Beach, California, NuSpace specializes in Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and offers satellite-as-a-service solutions.
The Quantum Threat to Satellite Communications
Quantum computers, with their immense processing power, pose a significant threat to current cryptographic systems. Traditional encryption methods, which rely on the computational difficulty of certain mathematical problems, could be easily broken by quantum algorithms. This vulnerability extends to satellite communications, which are integral to global connectivity and data transmission.
Integrating Quantum-Safe Technologies
The partnership aims to integrate quantum-safe cryptography with quantum random number generator (QRNG)-equipped satellites. QRNGs leverage the inherent unpredictability of quantum mechanics to produce genuinely random numbers, essential for creating secure cryptographic keys resistant to quantum attacks.
Squareroot8’s QRNG device will be incorporated into NuSpace’s satellite infrastructure. This integration will enhance NuSpace’s IoT communication solutions, providing a pathway to a broader market for quantum-safe communications.
Advancing Secure Multi-Party Computation
Partisia’s expertise in secure multi-party computation (MPC) will play a pivotal role in this collaboration. MPC allows multiple parties to jointly compute a function over their inputs while keeping those inputs private. By combining MPC with quantum-safe cryptography, the partnership aims to deliver a revolutionary solution for secure communication and data processing.
Mark Medum Bundgaard, Chief Product Officer at Partisia, emphasized the significance of this collaboration:
By integrating quantum-safe cryptography with QRNG-equipped satellites, this partnership delivers a revolutionary solution for secure communication and multi-party computation—ensuring privacy, efficiency, and quantum-proof security for the future of data processing.
The Importance of Genuine Randomness
While the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been developing post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithms, these algorithms still require genuinely random numbers to be effective against quantum decryption. The unpredictable nature of quantum mechanics provides the only known source of genuine randomness, underscoring the importance of QRNGs in this context.
Broader Implications and Future Prospects
The collaboration between Partisia, Squareroot8, and NuSpace represents a significant step toward securing satellite communications against emerging quantum threats. By leveraging their combined expertise in blockchain, quantum-safe communications, and satellite technology, these companies are pioneering solutions that could set new standards for data security in the quantum era.
As quantum computing continues to evolve, the need for robust, quantum-resistant communication infrastructures becomes increasingly critical. This partnership not only addresses current vulnerabilities but also lays the groundwork for future advancements in secure satellite communications.
