South Korea expands quantum test network nationwide, with KT and SK Broadband leading
In short
South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) opened a three-year project on 21 October to extend the open quantum testbed beyond Seoul, Pangyo and Daejeon. KT-led and SK Broadband-led consortia were selected, and 7.4 billion won is committed for this year.
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South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) held a kickoff meeting on 21 October for the Open Quantum Testbed Upgrade and Expansion Project, the ministry said. The meeting took place at the Pangyo Business Support Hub in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. Yonhap reported that consortia led by KT and SK Broadband were selected as the project's implementing bodies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The project runs for three years, from 2026 to 2028. This year 7.4 billion won is committed, made up of 3.75 billion won in government funds and 3.65 billion won in private contributions. The testbed is a facility where companies and research institutes jointly use a quantum cryptography test network and costly measurement equipment that they find hard to build themselves. Since 2024 it has operated on the Seoul, Pangyo and Daejeon route. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The existing facility is to grow into three hubs: commercial, overseas and future. According to the reports, the KT-led consortium takes the commercial and future hubs and the SK Broadband-led consortium the overseas hub. The commercial test network is to extend to Daegu this year, Gwangju and Busan in 2027 and the Gangwon region in 2028. Quantum cryptography is to be applied to research, medical and financial data transmission, and the plan includes checking whether domestic equipment from different makers works together. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The overseas hub is to link with quantum testbeds in Singapore, Poland and Bulgaria. Quantum key distribution (QKD) is to be used on domestic and local overseas segments, and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) on long-distance international segments. Asia Economy and Maeil Business reported that the tests would cover research data transmission and protection of urban air mobility (UAM) data. The future hub is to verify long-distance wireless quantum cryptography and the distribution of quantum entanglement across several points. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In a statement reported by Newsis on 22 October, KT said it would build and operate the commercial "Section Ga" and the future "Section Da". For Section Ga it listed new links between Daejeon and Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju, Daegu and Busan, and Seoul and Chuncheon, connecting the Chungcheong, Honam, Yeongnam and Gangwon regions. For Section Da, KT said it would extend fibre-based QKD to wireless and satellite settings and raise its wireless QKD test distance from about 4.8 km to about 15 km. Yonhap also reported on 22 October that KT would extend its quantum cryptography network nationwide by 2028. [ 4 , 5 ]
Yoon Kyung-sook (윤경숙), the ministry's director general for basic and fundamental research policy, said that speeding up commercialisation of quantum technology requires widening the base on which companies can verify technologies and products in varied environments. She said the government would expand domestic testbeds and overseas links to increase demonstration opportunities for companies. KT's Jeon Myeong-jun (전명준), head of its Enterprise Service Division, said KT would carry out the work without disruption, drawing on its nationwide network infrastructure and quantum cryptography capability. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The ministry says the aim is to give companies more settings in which to test quantum communication products as it seeks to speed up commercialisation. The documents give no results yet; the work is at the kickoff stage.
Key facts
- The ministry and NIA held a kickoff meeting for the Open Quantum Testbed Upgrade and Expansion Project on 21 October at the Pangyo Business Support Hub in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The project runs for three years, 2026 to 2028, with 7.4 billion won committed this year: 3.75 billion won from the government and 3.65 billion won from private contributions. [ 1 , 3 ]
- A KT-led consortium was selected for the commercial and future hubs, and an SK Broadband-led consortium for the overseas hub. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The commercial test network is to reach Daegu this year, Gwangju and Busan in 2027, and the Gangwon region in 2028. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The overseas hub is to link with quantum testbeds in Singapore, Poland and Bulgaria. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- KT said it plans to extend its wireless quantum key distribution test distance from about 4.8 km to about 15 km. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The ministry and NIA launched the project on 21 October, running to 2028, with 7.4 billion won this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Consortia led by KT (commercial and future hubs) and SK Broadband (overseas hub) were selected to carry out the project. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The existing test network, in place since 2024 in Seoul, Pangyo and Daejeon, is to be extended, with Daegu first this year, then Gwangju and Busan in 2027 and the Gangwon region in 2028. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The overseas hub will link with testbeds in Singapore, Poland and Bulgaria, using quantum key distribution (QKD) on domestic and local overseas segments and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) on long-distance international segments. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- When KT's new links (Daejeon-Daegu, Daejeon-Gwangju, Daegu-Busan, Seoul-Chuncheon) and the 15 km wireless test will be completed. Only Newsis, relaying KT's statement, lists these links and the distance, and gives no dates for them.
- Funding for 2027 and 2028. The documents give the 7.4 billion won figure for this year only.
- What the SK Broadband consortium will do beyond the overseas links. The documents give no further detail on its work.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy and Yonhap publish reports on 21 October on the kickoff meeting held that day at Pangyo. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes its report on 21 October. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes KT's statement of 22 October on its role in the project. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap publishes a report on 22 October on KT's plan to extend the quantum network nationwide by 2028. [ 5 ]