Ten project partners comprising research organisations, universities and leading industry representatives have joined the SES-led consortium to develop the Quantum Cryptography Telecommunication System (QUARTZ), SES announced today.

The new members of the consortium will develop a system that will generate encryption keys in space, and securely transmit those keys to users on Earth via laser. Members include:

  • AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
  • German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Communications and Navigation
  • ID Quantique
  • itrust consulting
  • Ludwig-Maximilians-University
  • LuxTrust
  • Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
  • Palacky University
  • Tesat-Spacecom
  • TNO

In order to achieve delivery of a reliable, globally available cybersecurity system and deliver next-generation encryption keys to networks in geographically dispersed areas, the new platform will leverage the unique advantages of satellite, including global reach and unlimited coverage.

The development of QUARTZ is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) under a recently announced agreement with SES. In the project framework, SES and partners will define, design and develop a satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system and service architecture, which will include the future service and the core technologies, as well as ground end-to-end testing. QUARTZ applications will address the needs of users such as telecommunication operators, financial organisations, infrastructure providers, institutions and governmental organisations.

About SES

SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 16 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in two key business units: SES Video and SES Networks. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions. SES’s portfolio includes ASTRA, O3b and MX1, a leading media service provider that offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. SES is listed on the Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange (ticker: SESG). Further information available at: www.ses.com