China Plans To Launch the World's First 'Unhackable' Quantum Communication Network (phys.org)

An anonymous reader quotes Phys.org: China is about to launch the Jinan Project, the world's first unhackable computer network, and a major milestone in the development of quantum technology... the network is planned to be fully operational by the end of August 2017... By launching the network, China will become the first country worldwide to implement quantum technology for a real life, commercial end. It also highlights that China is a key global player in the rush to develop technologies based on quantum principles, with the EU and the United States also vying for world leadership in the field.

The network, known as a quantum key distribution (QKD) network, is more secure than widely used electronic communication equivalents. Unlike a conventional telephone or internet cable, which can be tapped without the sender or recipient being aware, a QKD network alerts both users to any tampering with the system as soon as it occurs. This is because tampering immediately alters the information being relayed, with the disturbance being instantly recognisable. Once fully implemented, it will make it almost impossible for other governments to listen in on Chinese communications... It will be the world's longest land-based quantum communications network, stretching over 2,000 km.

Comments

It's heartening to see

[SlaveToTheGrind]

that the Chinese government finally appreciates the benefit of communication free of surveillance.

Re:It's heartening to see

[ShanghaiBill]

Actually, the opposite is true. The Chinese government is more interested in intimidation than censorship. They try to emphasize the thuggery rather than hide it. Instead of just subtly deleting offending social media posts, the posts are often edited to replace or modify violations with warnings, to send a clear message to both posters and readers that "we are watching you".

Not much information,

[jcochran]

but the name is fairly revealing. And as typical, the media over states its capability.
quantum key distribution (QKD) - Strongly implies that the network will be used for distributing cryptographic keys. Which makes sense since the bandwidth is likely to rather limited. And that means that the actual messages using those keys are subject to possible decryption. But still a very impressive accomplishment.

Re:Not much information,

[Plus1Entropy]

Any foreign company wanting to take advantage of China's cheap manufacturing services also need to hand over the related IP before being allowed to do so.

I have personally negotiated with Chinese CMs and there was never any such requirement. In fact there were many times where we took steps to ensure we retained our IP, e.g. we had the CM flash rudimentary firmware to test the hardware, with the real firmware flashed in-house later. Obviously some IP had to be sent so they could actually make the thing, but that's true no matter where your CM is based.

Maybe this can happen with very large companies where the Chinese government feels its worth it, but your claim that "any foreign company" must hand over all related IP is just not true.

Re:Unhackable?

[grahammm]

Probably unhackable in the same way as the Titanic was unsinkable.

Re:Unhackable?

[93 Escort Wagon]

Smart humans have learned how to "cheat" their way around quantum limitations before... I imagine it will eventually happen with surreptitiously intercepting quantum communications as well.

But, in any case, attacking the end points is always an option.

Re: Not unhackable

[Anonymous Coward]

Still not quite right.
If someone tries to tap in, it destroys the information. So the endpoints don't actually know someone tried to tap it, they just know the data is suddenly garbage and have to find the error source in order to fix it.