One of the priorities of modern economies, specifically of the European Union in general and of Spain in particular, is digitalisation. An essential element of communications is their security, necessary to preserve data privacy, intellectual and industrial property, and the security and continuity of supply in essential or critical infrastructures, such as energy, water, transport or the Internet itself.
In response to this need, the European Commission will launch the European Quantum Communications Infrastructure (Euro-QCI), with cybersecurity secured by quantum keys.
This action seeks to develop the spatial capabilities necessary to design, develop and build the first quantum mission of the QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) to distribute quantum keys.
The project aims to develop a satellite payload and associated ground segment for a quantum key distribution mission complete with state-of-the-art satellite communication subsystems and systems. A high participation of the space industry based in the country is expected in its manufacture. It seeks to be the first geostationary satellite to embark on a QKD mission.
Execution and results
The pre-commercial public procurement tender for the development of R&D services for the development of innovative solutions involving the development of two prototypes of experimental payloads and their associated ground segments for quantum key distribution (QKD System - “Quantum Key Distribution”) was published on 21 September 2023.