The security danger of quantum computers

BarcelonaThe European Union has taken action on the topic of quantum computing because it does not want to end up depending on the US and China in this area as well, even if only because of the security risks to communications that this would entail. For now, the priority objective is to develop software that works on future quantum computers and on applications that should be completely secure thanks to this technology. Several European research centers—public and private—, companies, telecommunications operators, and start-ups, including some here, are collaborating to avoid being left behind in this field—or even to lead it—now considered strategic in the global geopolitical environment.

In reality, quantum computers are still very much in their infancy, despite the self-serving propaganda of large technology companies. However, it is true that quantum chips with more and more qubits (quantum information elements) are being built, and progress is being made in the development of the software that runs the system. It is expected that in the next decade—or the next one at the latest—we will have sufficiently developed and useful quantum computers. We could even see operational prototypes before 2030.

The challenge is enormous. It is not just about manufacturing chips with much greater capacity, but above all about creating software intelligent enough to distinguish valuable and truthful information amidst mountains of erroneous or meaningless data, since the uncertainty principle inherent in quantum mechanics means that the information generated grows exponentially the more qubits there are. And the part that hinders more than it serves is growing even more.

Quantum computers should allow for more precise solutions to very complex problems, such as weather or natural disaster forecasting, or the development of drugs for specific diseases. However, with these benefits of quantum technology, the drawbacks will also increase: if someone wants to cause real harm, they will, theoretically, have very powerful technology at their disposal.

One of the first problems that has arisen is the security of passwords and the protection systems for current communications and information systems. It seems clear that, with quantum computers and sufficiently developed software, no protection system made with zeros and ones on current logical computers will be inviolable. Therefore, one of the priority issues in the European Union is the creation of "post-quantum" protection systems, that is, created with quantum technology that makes them inviolable by future quantum computers.

Given the current nationalist drift of China and the US, it's clear that the development of this technology must be European. At the very least, with software designed in Europe on equipment that, even if manufactured abroad, is located within European territory and with all the necessary quantum protections. If there's one positive aspect of Donald Trump's second term, it's that it makes it clear that the EU cannot rely on anyone from now on and must have the maximum amount of technology and resources available in all areas, including quantum technology. Although common sense suggests that a concerted global effort would be necessary to develop quantum technology more quickly and establish common standards.

Software made in Europe

During the recent MWC, a quantum technology summit was held in Barcelona within the EU context, focusing on the strategies of telecom operators. It was highlighted that the EU has a very high number of quantum technology graduates (125,000), above India (80,000), China (58,000), and the US. 108 startups were identified (start-ups), organizations and firms operating in the telecommunications operator and quantum telecommunications infrastructure sector, with an average investment of €7.4 million, according to Iain Thompson, head of industry at the consultancy. The headquarters of these companies are 35% located in the US, 32% in continental Europe, 14% in the UK and Ireland, and 12% in Asia. 87% are start-ups, 9% are organizations or small and medium-sized enterprises, and only 4% are publicly traded companies, such as Toshiba or Ciena, Thompson added.

To these companies must be added more than 50 that operate in the telecommunications sector, such as operators Telefónica, Telekom, Orange, BT, TIM, KPN and SK Telecom and suppliers Cellnex, Nokia and Jupiter, among others. Half of these are in continental Europe, 30% in North America, 11% in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and 9% in Asia.

Therefore, Europe as a whole is well positioned to lead in this quantum scenario of the future—or at least be a protagonist. However, to achieve this, greater collaborations within the ecosystem, educational and workforce development, fostering market growth and creating common commercial standards are necessary, Thompson added.

Initiatives in Spain and Catalonia

In Spain, work is being done on quantum projects, such as Quantum Spain or EuroHPC in quantum computing; on quantum communications in geosynchronous, low-orbit, or ground-based satellites; and on the development of a quantum clock, according to Alberto Gago, head of the office for Spain Digital 2030 and international relations for digitalization and AI. "Europe has the talent, and the EU is committed to developing quantum computing projects and innovations close to the market," Gago said in the introduction to the summit.

At the national level, Telefónica stands out, boasting more than ten years of experience in quantum technologies and has just created a center of excellence in quantum technologies that will coordinate all lines of innovation across the company's different areas, as Enrique Blanco, head of technology and information systems until this month, explained to MWC. Patricia Díez, the operator's director of network and systems security, added that this center "will be based on the axes of quantum technologies: communications and cybersecurity, computing and simulation, and sensing and metrology."

Catalonia has also launched a plan to become a quantum power in Europe. After three years of waiting due to lack of funding, the Vall de la Quàntica project will be launched, with an initial investment of 5.5 million euros that promises to reach 43 million in five years. how this newspaper reportedThe Catalan initiative, coordinated by ICFO, the Institute of Photonic Sciences, will create a scientific, technological, and business cluster that aims to include the entire Catalan ecosystem.

In addition to universities, research centers, start-ups and telecommunications companies, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), with its quantum computer prototype inaugurated in early February and within the framework of the Quantum Spain project, will also contribute to the development of this technology. inviolable in information systems.