The first quantum communication network in Cyprus will be launched in 2023 after a successful €7.5 million research proposal bid to the European Commission, under the Digital Europe Programme.
The project, namely Cyprus Quantum Communications Infrastructure (CyQCI), will be implemented by scientists at European University Cyprus (EUC) and the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (DMRID), the Department of Electronic Communications (DEC); the Digital Security Authority (DSA); the Cyprus Telecommunication Authority (CYTA); the Cyprus Research and Academic Network (CYNET), and Hellas-Sat (HS). CyQCI will establish an advanced experimental optical network based on quantum key distribution (QKD), enabling the highly secure transfer of information between critical public, academic and industrial end-users, across three cities. Through this project, Cyprus will participate in the collective efforts of the European Union under the EuroQCI initiative, to develop a trans-European, quantum-safe network.
CyQCI is coordinated by Dr. Konstantinos Katzis, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, European University Cyprus. The academic team is comprised of Dr. Mariella Minder (CUT), Dr. Christiana Panayi (EUC/CERIDES) and Prof. Kyriacos Kalli (CUT/PhOSLab), while the participation of the public sector is led by Mr. Andronikos Kakkouras (DEC), Mr. Stelios Tziortzis (DEC) and Mr. Costas Efthymiou (DSA). Other governmental authorities and private organisations participating in the implementation of the network are: CYTA led by Mr. Vasos Alexandridis and Mr. Neofytos Morphis , CYNET led by Dr. Georgios Konnis, and HELLAS SAT led by Mr. Kendeas Karantonis. Other governmental authorities such as ministries, critical infrastructure organisations, hospitals, airports and other private organisations will participate as end-users.
The project will run for 30 months and will be co-funded by the European Commission and the Republic of Cyprus (Deputy Ministry of Research Innovation and Digital Policy).
Source: Cyprus News Agency