Heriot-Watt University unveiled its $3.3 million Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), marking a leap in quantum technology to combat cyber threats.

London

Heriot-Watt University has introduced the UK's first Optical Ground Station for quantum key distribution, known as HOGS. The $3.3 million facility is designed to enhance cybersecurity using quantum technology by generating encryption keys that are resistant to hacking. This technology is expected to help secure sensitive information in sectors such as banking and healthcare and address the country's significant annual losses from cybercrime.

The HOGS facility utilizes advanced laser systems to enable communication with satellites using single photon technology, which supports ultra-secure data transmission. Ross Donaldson, from the University's Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences and lead on the project, highlighted the importance of adopting quantum technologies to defend against potential threats from future quantum computers, which could be capable of breaking current encryption methods.

To further develop quantum communications, the facility will be involved in the launch of a CubeSat, named the Spock mission, which aims to demonstrate space-to-ground quantum key distribution. The project involves international collaboration and aims to contribute to a global quantum internet, with the potential to improve cybersecurity and connect future quantum computers.

British organisations have experienced numerous costly and disruptive cyber attacks in recent years, prompting government warnings for all companies to prioritize cybersecurity. HOGS is supported by funding from the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and contributes to the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, a national effort to build secure quantum communication networks. Gerald Buller, director of the hub, noted that quantum-based encryption could be especially beneficial for high-value transactions and government communications. The UK has recently announced additional quantum research initiatives with the goal of becoming a quantum-enabled economy.



UK embraces quantum tech to combat future cyber threats

This observatory telescope has been repurposed to combat cyber threats. Located at Harriet Watt University, it's the UK's first facility dedicated to quantum key distribution, or QKD, via satellite. By creating virtually unhackable encryption keys, it aims to help protect sensitive data in banking and healthcare, and in turn bring down the UK's $36 billion annual cybercrime cost. The $3.3 million quantum communications hub Optical Ground Station, or HOGS, uses advanced laser systems to communicate with satellites, leveraging single photon technology for ultra-secure data transmission. Ross Donaldson from the University's Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences is the project lead. He says the technology is crucial as investments into quantum computing ramp up. There's certain algorithms that those quantum computers could run that would be able to hack into secure messages that are sent today, and those that are sent in the future as well. So by not being able to secure ourselves now, we leave ourselves open to encryption breaking later on. Donaldson says the facility will support the launch of a CubeSat later this year to demonstrate space-to-ground QKD. The Spock mission, which goes up later this year, we are working with international partners to have it connect to other places in the world, and then also connect with our ground station here. So essentially creating our own quantum internet across the world. That could help connect future quantum computers and boost cybersecurity by enhancing defenses to hacking and evolving threats, Donaldson added. British companies, public bodies and institutions have been hit by a wave of cyber attacks in recent years, costing millions and often causing months of disruption. The British government has warned all UK companies to treat cybersecurity as an absolute priority. HOGS is funded by the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and supports a UK initiative to develop secure quantum communication networks called the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub. Gerald Buller is the hub's director. The benefit to global business will be there'll be alternative approaches to encryption. Where I think most people would see alternative forms of encryption, quantum-based encryption techniques, would be in high-value transactions or government communications, for example. Last year Britain announced several new quantum research hubs to advance research into healthcare, cybersecurity and transport as it looks to become a quantum-enabled economy by 2035.

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