Length of the Quantum Network
622 km
About the Project
The CZQCI project aims to build a pilot version of the Czech national backbone quantum communication infrastructure. This infrastructure will serve to validate relevant quantum communication technologies and their integration into existing telecommunications networks, while also promoting the knowledge necessary for their use in secure communications.
The project is being implemented as part of the preparation for the European quantum-secure communication infrastructure EuroQCI, whose objective is to ensure that all EU Member States are fully prepared to deploy quantum communication infrastructure by 2030.
The project will provide:
- A pilot backbone network connecting Prague, Brno, and Ostrava, serving as the first long-distance quantum communication network in the Czech Republic.
- Educational programmes in the field of quantum communications for both the general public and experts from sectors that can benefit from quantum communication technologies, particularly cybersecurity, telecommunications, and optical communications.
- Access to real-world quantum communication through pilot connections to the backbone network for interested partners from public administration and industry.
- A laboratory for education and advanced testing, equipped with a representative range of quantum communication technologies.
The infrastructure and expertise developed through the CZQCI project will enable the testing of advanced communication scenarios involving a wide range of partners, including public institutions and innovative industrial stakeholders. Through partner programmes, Czech industry and public administration will gain the knowledge and practical experience needed to deploy, operate, and manage a large-scale quantum communication network. These capabilities will support informed decision-making regarding where quantum communication technologies can be effectively implemented in the future.
CZQCI actively participates in the international quantum communication community, contributing to the exchange of expertise and the development of international routes for integration into the European EuroQCI network. The project also aims to increase public awareness of quantum technologies across a broad range of audiences.
By doing so, CZQCI makes a significant contribution to Europe's efforts to advance quantum communications and to support the wider deployment and adoption of European quantum communication technologies.
This project is funded by the European Union's Digital Europe Programme under Grant Agreement No. 101091684 and by the National Recovery Plan of the Czech Republic. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Aktivity v projektu
Infrastructure
Number of Nodes Connected to the Stable QCI Network
7 nodes
Number of Implemented Use Cases
4 cases
The foundation of the CZQCI project is the creation of a pilot backbone network – a physical infrastructure that will be built as a quantum optical network between Prague, Brno, and Ostrava. The pilot backbone network will be prepared for future interconnection with neighbouring countries: Germany, Poland, Austria, and Slovakia. International interconnection will not be implemented within the current CZQCI project but separately under the CEF II call.
For testing purposes, temporary branch connections will be created from the pilot backbone network to partner institutions and organisations, enabling practical testing of quantum communication for industry, the public sector, and for research, development, and innovation within Czech institutions. The pilot backbone network and the temporary branch connections will use already developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) devices that are commercially available. The pilot backbone network will connect leading academic institutions, while simultaneously providing up to four temporary branch connections, which will be made available to individual partners as needed for periods of 6–18 months.
Education
An integral part of the objectives of the CZQCI project is the training of both the general public and experts so that the Czech Republic will, in the future, be fully capable of implementing, managing, and further developing a quantum communication network. This activity will also strengthen interest in quantum technologies and enable future seamless interconnection with neighbouring countries.
For this purpose, a carefully prepared set of courses and modules is available for both experts and non-experts, covering all aspects of quantum communication. We also consider the education of management and senior public administration officials to be an integral part of the project, so that they will be able to make informed decisions in the field of quantum-secured communication in the future.
Detailed information about the courses can be found on the page dedicated to education.
To gain practical experience, we also offer partner organisations the establishment of temporary branch connections for testing their scenarios; see the Testing tab.
Testing
For practical, applicable education and an understanding of the benefits, possibilities, and limitations of quantum-secured communication at all levels of organisational management, hands-on experience with this technology is indispensable. The CZQCI project therefore offers hands-on testing of the quantum communication infrastructure at several levels:
- Establishment of a laboratory (testbed) that will serve, among other things, for the development and testing of components of a hybrid optical communication infrastructure.
- Interconnection according to various implementation scenarios.
- Preparation of custom configurations using specialised optical components for testing different QKD strategies.
- The possibility of creating a temporary branch connection from the pilot backbone network to the partner's computing centre and implementing a dedicated quantum-secured communication channel for partners.
- Analysis of existing and new infrastructure for possible improvements in future versions of the infrastructure.
- Testing of existing commercial QKD devices to understand their capabilities and limitations.
If you are interested in testing this technology yourself, please contact us using the form below. In your message, please include your institution, your job position, and a description of the scenarios you are considering. To enable us to assess the availability of testing at your location, please also provide at least the approximate expected locations of the equipment.
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Odborná organizace pro kyberbezpečnost založená třemi univerzitami. Vytváříme inovační ekosystém, který ovlivňuje budoucnost prostřednictvím výzkumu, služeb a infrastruktury za účelem posílení bezpečnosti a odolnosti.
CyberSecurity Hub, z. ú.
Šumavská 416/15
602 00 Brno
Česká republika