Alliance enables quantum-secure satellite communications

Partisia, Squareroot8, and NuSpace have recently come together to sign a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing the future of secure communications through the utilization of a satellite-based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG).

The collaboration between these companies will involve integrating a QRNG into an orbiting satellite along with advanced cryptography techniques. This integration will result in the development of a fully quantum-proof encryption method for satellite communications, offering encrypted correlated randomness for Multi-Party Computation (MPC).

Mark Medum Bundgaard, the Chief Product Officer at Partisia, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “By combining quantum-safe cryptography with QRNG-equipped satellites, this collaboration is set to revolutionize secure communication and multiparty computation, ensuring privacy, efficiency, and quantum-proof security for the future of data processing.”

Enhancing Secure Computation with QRNGs and Satellites

A Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) is capable of generating highly secure random keys. When integrated into a satellite, the QRNG can generate a random key and securely transmit it to two parties, enabling them to communicate privately using post-quantum cryptography. This setup guarantees a quantum-safe encryption method.

In addition to facilitating secure communication, the satellite can preprocess data for multiparty computation. These computations often involve confidential values that need to remain private. By precomputing random values and storing intermediate results, the satellite can accelerate the final calculation process.

For example, in certain MPC protocols, preprocessing may take nearly a week, while the actual computation only requires an hour. The majority of data exchanges occur during preprocessing, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

However, by continuously generating preprocessed "false" numbers using a secure quantum-proof machine or satellite equipped with a QRNG, the computation process becomes significantly more efficient. When real data is ready for processing, these false numbers can be combined with the actual values to expedite calculations, reducing processing time by up to 80%.

Dr. Goh Koon Tong, Chief Technologist & Co-Founder of Squareroot8 Technologies, highlighted the transformative impact of preprocessing with QRNG-equipped satellites on secure computation. He emphasized that this approach dramatically reduces processing time, enhances efficiency, and ensures quantum-safe security, leveraging space as a trusted environment for data privacy and cryptographic advancements.

The decision to utilize satellites for these computations was strategic, as they are physically challenging to access compared to ground-based hardware servers. Furthermore, preprocessed computations can be conducted weeks in advance, minimizing real-time processing delays. The satellite itself remains unaware of the actual data, solely generating random preprocessed values. By harnessing QRNG-equipped satellites, a secure, quantum-proof environment can be established for faster and safer cryptographic computations.