SA and China Collaborate on Historic 12,900 km Satellite Communication

(3 Minutes Read)

South African and Chinese scientists set a global milestone with a 12,900 km quantum satellite link, advancing ultra-secure communication and cybersecurity.

A team of scientists from South Africa and China has successfully created the world’s longest ultra-secure quantum satellite link, which stretches 12,900 kilometres. This achievement represents a major advancement in quantum communication technology, improving global cybersecurity and data encryption.

The collaboration between Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the University of Science and Technology of China enabled the real-time generation of quantum keys through Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). These keys facilitated the transmission of encrypted images between ground stations in both countries using one-time pad encryption, a method regarded as virtually unbreakable.

A quantum network serves as an infrastructure that connects quantum devices, offering revolutionary capabilities in computing, sensing, and communication. A quantum satellite constellation provides a means to establish this network globally. Additionally, a secret key for one-time pad encryption of images is generated between China and South Africa at locations over 12,900 kilometres apart.

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The compact quantum payload can be easily assembled on space stations or small satellites, paving the way for a network combining quantum and classical technologies for widespread practical use.