ZTE launches world's first OTN-based quantum encryption transport solution

28 September 2016, Shenzhen, China – ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the Mobile Internet, today announced the launch of the industry’s first quantum encryption transport solution based on an optical transport network (OTN). This solution successfully achieves shared-fibre transmission of quantum paths and traditional paths.

This solution will elevate the telecommunication information security sector. Moreover, with features such as high adaptability, strong practicability and absolute security and reliability, this solution has acquired wide-spread attention from the industry.

With the successful launch of the Mozi quantum satellite, quantum telecommunication technology is attracting wider attention and so far, it is the only telecommunication security technology that has been verified under strict conditions for its security capability. Based on the indivisible, non-cloning and unmeasurable features of quantum, it can generate secure and reliable keys by transmitting digital information and using a single photon. It can also transmit communication information securely and reliably by timely key updates. Its secure transmission capability and anti-decoding capability are far higher than any traditional information encryption method.

ZTE proposed to implement quantum encryption transmission by OTN equipment following in-depth analysis on network security and encrypted telecommunication requirements. This solution has a number of innovations. Firstly, it implements the shared-fibre transparent transmission of quantum paths and traditional paths on OTN equipment and provides a quantum encryption function when not occupying a new fibre resource. Secondly, it adopts standard quantum key service interfaces to form open quantum telecommunication architecture. Thirdly, it provides the added security value delivered by quantum encryption telecommunication technology without changing the current network service system. This facilitates the construction of commercial sites.

In 2016, ZTE made a number of innovative achievements showcasing the company’s technological strength in the optical transport field. In January, it successfully completed the 400G transmission test in cooperation with TMA and recorded the longest transmission distance in the industry. In June, ZTE achieved the record for the longest transmission distance of a single-carrier 800G 16QAM in the world. In July, thanks to the advantages of its product differentiation, ZTE’s 100G OTN equipment passed Jiangsu Telecom’s current network VC cross-connect test. And most recently, in September, ZTE became the first provider to launch an OTN-based quantum encryption technology solution, laying a solid foundation for the optical telecommunication sector to enter the quantum era.