Komputasi
Tautan Enkripsi Kuantum Rekor Melalui Mikro‑Satelit Tercapai
Era Baru untuk Enkripsi Kuantum
Encryption of transmitted data is an ever-growing concern as more and more critical functions are dependent on safe and secure data links. In the context of military, diplomatic, or even business data, secure does not only mean ensuring that no one accesses the data but also to be able to know if any third party is even trying to eavesdrop.
Ini adalah hal yang secara khusus dirancang untuk dilakukan oleh enkripsi kuantum, dengan setiap gangguan secara otomatis terdeteksi berkat aturan dasar fisika kuantum (lihat di bawah).
Namun, mengelola transmisi jarak jauh enkripsi kuantum secara historis menjadi tantangan, membatasi kegunaan teknologi ini.
Masalah ini tampaknya sudah menjadi masa lalu, karena peneliti China berhasil menciptakan tautan satelit kuantum sepanjang 12.900 km (8.000 mil) antara China dan Afrika Selatan.
Pencapaian ini diraih melalui upaya kolaboratif besar yang melibatkan peneliti di Hefei National Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jinan Institute of Quantum Technology, Beijing Electronics Science and Technology Institute, Stellenbosch University (Afrika Selatan), CAS Quantum Network Co. Ltd, dan Quantum CTek Co. Ltd.
These results were published in Nature1, under the title “Microsatellite-based real-time quantum key distribution”.
Penjelasan Enkripsi Kuantum
Quantum encryption, or distribusi kunci kuantum (QKD), is not an encryption that relies on quantum computing capacities (this would be called kriptografi kuantum).
Apa yang dilakukan enkripsi kuantum adalah menghasilkan kunci enkripsi untuk menyediakan kerahasiaan, menggunakan foton tunggal untuk mentransfer dan mengkodekan kunci tersebut.
Keunikan teknik ini terletak pada fakta bahwa foton tunggal tidak dapat disadap, disalin, atau diukur tanpa mengubah keadaan kuantumnya. Hal ini secara mutlak tidak dapat diubah, karena merupakan aturan keras bahwa observasi partikel kuantum akan mengubah karakteristiknya.
Sumber: Quside
Akibatnya, kedua pengguna yang berkomunikasi dapat memastikan bahwa tidak ada pihak yang bahkan mencoba mengakses kunci, apalagi berhasil melakukannya.
Hal ini menjadikan teknik tersebut pilihan yang sangat kuat untuk transmisi data penting yang aman, terutama untuk tujuan keamanan nasional.
This is not a new idea, as the concept is based on work from 1984, but it is only now being deployed at scale. The method does not actually transfer data but is just the key to decrypt data transmitted through usual means.
(Sebelumnya) Batasan Enkripsi Kuantum
Until now, quantum encryption required a very elaborate set of dedicated infrastructure, with dedicated optical fibers.
This is a domain where China is leading, with a 2,000 km terrestrial fiber-based quantum network connecting 32 trusted nodes across major cities, from Beijing to Shanghai. This previous project was conducted under the guidance of renowned quantum physicist Prof Jian-Wei Pan, one of the leaders of this latest development in quantum encryption.
This approach differs radically from the American one, with the NSA preferring alternative technologies.
Overall, quantum encryption is highly hardware-based and inflexible, and cannot be implemented in software or as a service on a network. This also makes its integration into other networks, or upgrades difficult.
Memindahkan Enkripsi Kuantum ke Luar Angkasa
Membangun Berdasarkan Upaya Sebelumnya
This limitation linked to the optical fiber network, a massive infrastructure project, is being lifted by moving toward satellite-based quantum encryption instead.
The first step was an experimental setup from the project Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS). It included the satellite Micius (Chinese: 墨子), in collaboration with the University of Vienna.
Micius previously managed 7,600 km of satellite-based intercontinental quantum links, with assistance from a laser communications experiment on the Chinese Tiangong-2 space laboratory module (the Chinese space station).
This was a good way to demonstrate the concept was even possible. However, this prototype has yet to prove that it could be done with elements needed for a practical deployment: small, lightweight satellites, portable ground stations, and real-time secure key exchange.
The South African side of this study was led by Pr. Francesco Petruccione, who developed one of the world’s first fiber-optic quantum communication networks in Durban, South Africa.
Sumber: Stellenbosch University
“Demonstrasi sukses teknologi satelit kuantum ini menempatkan Afrika Selatan secara tegas sebagai pemain signifikan dalam ekosistem teknologi kuantum global yang berkembang pesat.
Pr. Francesco Petruccione
Keuntungan Komunikasi Satelit
The biggest advantage of using satellites for this sort of encrypted communication is that it is not reliant on a preexisting and dedicated optical fiber network.
This allows the system to be widely deployed instead of just limited to an expensive and only domestic system of optic fibers.
An extra bonus is that this technological feat was achieved by using only micro-satellites with a payload of only 23 kg (50 pounds). For reference, the somewhat small Starlink satellites are weighing 800kg (1,760 pounds) each.
Sumber: Reuters
Jadi, akan sangat mudah untuk meluncurkan konstelasi besar perangkat ini tanpa banyak peluncuran orbital.
The portable ground station weighs about 100 kilograms, which makes them easy to transport and implement anywhere.
Keterbatasan Komunikasi Satelit
Because the communication relies on photons, it is highly dependent on weather conditions. Cloudy days, or even when the satellite is aligned with the Sun, can hinder the process.
So, most likely, this is not a technology that can be used in any conditions all the time. It is nevertheless an impressive achievement. And potentially, the use of photons in other frequencies less affected by the weather (like microwaves) could be a logical next step to implement.
Seberapa Baik Kinerjanya?
The climate impact of this technology was one reason for picking Stellenbosch, with its ideal environmental conditions of clear skies and low humidity. In these conditions, the sharing of up to 1.07 million bits of secure keys was achieved during a single satellite pass.
The communication was also bidirectional, allowing for secure communication in real-time. So this is a success that solved all the previous limitations of the Micius prototype, including the weight of the satellite and station useful real-time exchanges.
Another thing the system demonstrates is that it can transfer one-time pad encryption of images. So even if at a later date, the quantum encryption cannot be transferred, like with bad weather, once the key has been transferred, data could still be decrypted, despite the 12,900 kilometers distance.
Aplikasi
The first applications are likely for national security and military applications, as these are the foremost consumers of unbreakable, highly-secured encryption services.
However, this should not be the end point of this technology. A large constellation of satellites could perform the transfer of the encryption keys for commercial consumers as well. This can include tech companies, financial firms, crypto exchanges, etc.
However, this level of security is, for now, unlikely to be used by most Internet users, as it will still be very technical and more expensive than other encryption methods.
The quantum encryption market is expected to grow by an astonishing 38.3% from 2024 to 2030, from $518M.
Sumber: Grand View Research
Overall, this means that a new and ubiquitous layer of space telecommunication could be added soon, not one of broadband Internet like Starlink, but point-to-point, impossible-to-spy-on secure encryption.
As this network only transfers the encryption key, not actual data, it could be a powerful way to improve the safety of encryption of satellite telecommunications.
The next step will also be testing geostationary satellites, as this would radically improve the transfer rate of encryption keys.
It would also make more sense in the long term for a commercial system, as ultra-low latency linked to low-Earth orbit is not so required for quantum encryption.
Perusahaan Enkripsi Kuantum
Arqit Quantum Inc
(ARQQ )
Arquit adalah pemasok “platform enkripsi kesepakatan kunci simetris yang aman secara kuantum”.
Dengan istilah yang lebih sederhana, perangkat yang menyediakan enkripsi yang aman dari kemajuan dalam komputasi kuantum.
Produk perusahaan ini mematuhi standar NSA, serta banyak standar keamanan siber dan kriptografi lainnya.
Klien Arquit mencakup sebagian besar perusahaan keamanan siber dan jaringan terbesar, termasuk Fortinet, Juniper Network, Intel, Adtran, dll.
Perangkat lunak terkait dapat diintegrasikan dengan sebagian besar vendor OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) dan berbasis cloud.
Sumber: Arquit
Teknologi ini diakui oleh industri sebagai pemimpin dalam kualitas enkripsi, telah memenangkan National Cyber Awards dan Cyber Security Software Company of the Year Award di Cyber Security Awards. Ia juga memenangkan CTO Outstanding Technology Award untuk solusi 5G aman di Mobile World Congress.
Terlepas dari daftar klien, mitra, dan penghargaan yang mengesankan, Arquit masih merupakan perusahaan baru, dengan pendapatan hanya $293.000 pada tahun 2024.
This is, however, not reflecting the true value of the company, as it expects contracts in the tens of millions to come from government and private companies in the near future:
Similarly, Sparkle launched pada tahun 2024, merekaadalah “Jaringan sebagai Layanan (NaaS) Suite Produk dengan Keamanan Kuantum melalui Internet”, menggunakan produk Arquit.
Together with a cash position of $18.7M at the end of 2024, the upcoming contracts put Arquit in a position to soon evolve from its status as a pre-revenue startup, justifying its 9-digit valuation.
Berita Terbaru tentang Arqit Quantum Inc.
Referensi Studi:
1. Li, Y., Cai, WQ., Ren, JG. et al. Microsatellite-based real-time quantum key distribution. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08739-z
