KT Adopts TTA Domestic Standard for Quantum Cryptography Communication Interoperability Interface Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] KT's quantum cryptography communication interoperability interface technology has been adopted as a standard by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of Korea.

On the 26th, KT announced that its proposal to TTA, titled “Interface and Management Model for Interoperability between Heterogeneous Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Devices,” was finally adopted as a domestic standard related to quantum cryptography communication. With this adoption, KT now holds two domestic standard technologies related to quantum cryptography communication, following the 2019 standard for the “Quantum Cryptography Delivery Network Functional Architecture.”

The newly established TTA domestic standard, “Interface and Management Model for Interoperability between QKD Network Devices,” features support for direct communication between devices that distribute quantum cryptographic keys and management systems. This is a practical standard that explicitly proposes the data, data formats, and protocols necessary for interworking among quantum cryptography communication network equipment (components).

Through this, quantum cryptography-related equipment from various manufacturers can be mixed and used within a single network, enabling easier and more stable construction of quantum cryptography systems than before. It is expected to contribute to securing industrial leadership for domestic quantum cryptography equipment manufacturers, SDN (Software Defined Networks), NMS (Network Management System), and application service providers, thereby revitalizing the domestic quantum cryptography communication ecosystem.

Quantum cryptography communication is a technology that uses the physical properties of “quantum,” which is impossible to hack, to create absolutely secure cryptographic keys and provide encrypted communication. Quantum cryptographic keys are generated by distribution devices and stored and transmitted by cryptographic key management systems. Until now, there has been no standard interface between quantum key distribution devices and management systems, so building a quantum key distribution network required either using devices from a single manufacturer or a long time to build a network with heterogeneous devices.

KT developed a quantum cryptographic key management system applying this domestic standard-based interface and completed the construction of a heterogeneous quantum cryptographic infrastructure by interworking with three domestic QKD types in the New Deal Quantum Cryptography Infrastructure Construction Project. It is expected that various domestic businesses will be able to build quantum cryptography infrastructure more easily than before through service development based on the standard.

Dong-sik Lee, Executive Director of KT Infrastructure Research Institute, said, “With the adoption of the TTA domestic standard, we can actively utilize domestic quantum key distribution devices and solutions in related businesses,” and added, “KT will continue research and development to revitalize the domestic quantum cryptography communication ecosystem and provide customers with more stable quantum cryptography communication services.”