KISTI, SK Telecom develop world's first quantum cryptography network interoperability technology

South Korean researchers have developed a technology that allows the performance and operational feasibility of quantum cryptography networks — a next-generation security solution against hacking and eavesdropping — to be verified in a virtual environment before actual deployment.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, known as KISTI, announced Tuesday that it has jointly developed with SK Telecom what it described as the world's first technology to link a quantum key distribution (QKD) simulator with a Kubernetes-based key management system in real time through an internationally standardized compatible interface.

The technology was unveiled Monday at ECOC 2026, Europe's largest international optical communications conference, held in Malaga, Spain, through an SK Broadband exhibition booth.

According to global market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global quantum cryptography communications market is projected to grow roughly 5.5-fold, from $480 million in 2024 to $2.63 billion by 2030.

Research and development into interoperability technologies between heterogeneous quantum cryptography network platforms has been intensifying to support the commercialization and wider adoption of quantum cryptography networks. Large-scale projects at the national and supranational level — including Europe's EuroQCI initiative — are driving technology development to the proof-of-concept stage.

Quantum key distribution uses the principles of quantum mechanics to generate and transmit encryption keys. Building a quantum cryptography network requires the entire process — from key generation to management and supply — to operate in stable, seamless coordination. In practice, however, testing real hardware under freely varied conditions such as transmission distance and optical loss has posed significant challenges.

The research team connected KISTI's QKD simulator with SK Telecom's key management system via an interface compatible with the international standard ETSI GS QKD 014. Real-time status data from the simulator is transmitted through an interface compatible with the next-generation international standard ETSI GS QKD 023.

When the key management system requests quantum keys, the simulator replicates various communication environments and delivers the keys generated under those conditions in real time. This allows the entire process — from quantum key generation to management and supply — to be verified in an integrated manner.

A key advantage of the technology is that conditions difficult to alter on real hardware — such as transmission distance and optical loss — can be freely configured in the virtual environment. By enabling performance verification and optimization across a wide range of conditions before a quantum cryptography network is built, the technology is expected to improve efficiency throughout the development and proof-of-concept process.

The adoption of internationally standardized compatible interfaces is another distinguishing feature. By securing interoperability with quantum cryptography equipment developed by other institutions and companies, the technology enhances compatibility and scalability across different quantum cryptography communication systems.

The achievement combines KISTI's QKD simulation technology with SK Telecom's key management and network operations expertise. The two organizations plan to expand interoperability between different quantum cryptography networks and support real-world service demonstrations and applications going forward.

Song Jung-seok, head of KISTI's Network Future Technology Research Division, said the work was significant in that it "established a foundation for implementing diverse quantum cryptography communication environments and verifying them in conjunction with an actual key management system," adding that the institute would develop the technology into a core capability for enhancing the interoperability and scalability of quantum cryptography networks.

Ryu Tak-gi, head of network technology at SK Telecom, said the development "has made it possible to flexibly verify diverse network environments and key management functions," and that the company would use it as a basis for building a highly scalable quantum cryptography network operating environment.