Romanian Optical Ground Station

ongoing

In the context of fast-paced developments in quantum computing, quantum key distribution is among the prioritized technologies and infrastructure at national, European, and international levels. EuroQCI, as the largest international initiative to date, has the ultimate goal of an efficient, scalable, pan-European network for secure communication, using both terrestrial and space segment connections. However, this is not an easy task: the lack of developed software for optimal key distribution, communication scheduling, and predictive allocation leads to inefficiencies throuhgout the network; the lack of protocols for breach mitigation leads to increased risk of security incidents; the lack of protocols for cross-consortium collaboration and policy engines leaves network governance and interoperability at risk; the early stage of QKD tech proves interconnectivity to be difficult. The objectives of the action are: 1) deploying the first OGS in Romania compatible with Eagle1 and other future missions for EuroQCI, integrating it with the Romanian national QKD network; and 2) developing software and protocols for optimal key forwarding, schedule and prediction, cross-consortium operational collaboration, and others. Key activities include: deploying and running an Optical Ground Station in Romania compatible with Eagle1 and future space-segment quantum missions; extending RoNaQCI via the connection to the OGS with a QKD terrestrial link; designing, developing and testing a transportable breadboard optical setup simulating ground-space communication experimentally; developing QKD-related emulators and simulators; developing protocols such as for key forwarding, and international key routing; develop related software and proofs of concept. The project is expected to significantly impact via: connecting Romania to the larger EuroQCI via the space-segment; contributing to the European KPIs; improving the efficiency, usability, and security of EuroQCI; provide solutions for QKD networks scalability and interoperability at international level.