Sparkle and Arqit unveil quantum-safe VPN milestone

Sparkle, Italy’s premier international telecom operator, in collaboration with Arqit Quantum Inc., a leader in quantum encryption, has successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking Internet Protocol secure (IPsec) tunnel from Italy to Germany 

This achievement utilised Arqit’s advanced Symmetric Key Agreement Platform and was supported by Telsy, a cybersecurity expert within the TIM Group.

The demonstration highlighted the seamless integration of Arqit Quantum’s Symmetric Key Agreement technology into Sparkle’s cutting-edge network, enhancing the security of data transfers across borders.

This development signifies the establishment of a software-based quantum-resistant Virtual Private Network (VPN), a significant milestone in network security. The software nature of the SKA Platform allows for rapid and straightforward expansion throughout any telecom network, ensuring that sensitive information is safeguarded from potential future quantum decryption methods, thus addressing the challenges posed by the evolution of cybersecurity threats.

Daniele Mancuso, Sparkle's chief marketing & product management officer commented, “Our state-of-the-art global network provides critical services to carriers, institutions and enterprises who choose and trust Sparkle’s leading secure connectivity services to keep their data safe. The successful completion of the quantum-safe VPN PoC, preliminary to a large-scale commercial launch, anticipates the potential threat of quantum decryption and confirms our market leading commitment to continuously elevating the security and resilience of Sparkle’s infrastructure.”

David Williams, Arqit founder, chairman and CEO said, “Sparkle’s establishment of the first quantum-safe VPN between Catania and Frankfurt signifies a key milestone in telecoms cybersecurity. By leveraging Arqit's SKA Platform, Sparkle is pioneering a new era of secure communication, ensuring the resilience of critical networks against the looming threat of quantum adversaries.”