KISTI and SK Telecom Develop World’s First International Standard-Based Interoperability Technology for Quantum Cryptography Networks

- Real-time integration between QKD simulator and Kubernetes-based Key Manager achieved via international standard-compliant interfaces

- Unveiled at ECOC 2026, enhancing the interoperability and scalability of quantum cryptography communication networks

□ The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (President Sik Lee, hereafter KISTI), in collaboration with SK Telecom (hereafter SKT), announced that it has developed the world's first technology capable of testing performance and operational viability across diverse telecommunication environments prior to the physical deployment of a quantum cryptography communication network. The core of this technology lies in the real-time, international standard-compliant integration between KISTI's Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) simulator and SKT's Kubernetes*-based Key Manager (KM).

 *Kubernetes: An open-source platform that automatically handles the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications distributed across multiple servers. 

□ This newly developed technology was unveiled at the SK Broadband (SKB) exhibition booth during the 'European Conference on Optical Communication 2026 (ECOC 2026),' Europe's largest optical communication international event, held in Málaga, Spain, on September 21. 

□ Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a technology that securely generates and distributes cryptographic keys using the principles of quantum mechanics. KISTI's QKD simulator and SKT's Kubernetes-based Key Manager were interconnected using an interface compliant with the international standard ETSI GS QKD 014. Furthermore, the simulator's real-time telemetry information was connected to the KM via an interface compliant with ETSI GS QKD 023, a next-generation international standard.

□ When the Key Manager requests quantum keys, KISTI's simulator recreates various QKD communication environments and delivers the generated quantum keys in real time. This creates an end-to-end verification environment spanning the entire pipeline—from quantum key generation to management and distribution. 

□ The QKD simulator developed by KISTI allows flexible configuration and testing in a virtual environment under parameters that are otherwise difficult to modify on physical hardware, such as transmission distance and optical loss. Consequently, performance and operational feasibility can be validated across various conditions prior to building a physical quantum cryptography network. This capability is expected to be widely utilized for the future development, demonstration, optimization, and commercialization of QKD networks. 

□ Notably, by implementing international standard-compliant interfaces, this technology enables seamless interoperability with Kubernetes-based quantum cryptography equipment developed by other institutions or companies. This achievement is expected to enhance interoperability among disparate quantum cryptography systems and contribute to the expansion of quantum cryptographic communication services.

□ This milestone is the result of industry-research collaboration combining KISTI's QKD simulation technology with SKT's key management and network operation expertise. Both organizations plan to expand integration across different quantum cryptography networks while supporting the future demonstration and practical application of quantum communication services.

□ Dr. Jungsuk Song, Director of the Division of Network Future Technology Research at KISTI, stated, "This technology is significant in that it establishes a foundation for implementing diverse quantum cryptography communication environments and validating them through real-time integration with an actual Key Manager." He added, "We will continue to advance this into a core technology that enhances the interoperability and scalability of quantum cryptography networks."

□ Dr. Takki Yu, Head of Network Technology Office at SK Telecom, said, "By linking our Kubernetes-based Key Manager with the QKD simulator, we can now flexibly validate various network environments and key management functionalities." He added, "Based on this, we will build a highly scalable operational environment for quantum cryptography networks." 

□ Meanwhile, this technology development was supported by the element technology project for expanding QKD network efficiency and resource optimization (Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP)) and the national research infrastructure-based quantum cryptography network technology development project (MSIT & KISTI). It was showcased at the SK Broadband exhibition booth with support from the demand-based quantum technology demonstration and consulting program (MSIT & National Information Society Agency (NIA)).

Schematic diagram of international standard-based quantum cryptography communication interoperability technology

Researchers from KISTI, SK Telecom, and SK Broadband