Researchers from China and South Africa have created the world’s longest intercontinental quantum satellite connection, stretching nearly 13,000 kilometers. This achievement marks the first-ever quantum satellite link in the Southern Hemisphere, according to SciTechDaily.com.
The connection was made using China’s Jinan-1 quantum microsatellite, which orbits in low Earth orbit. In the demonstration, scientists employed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to generate real-time encryption keys, enabling the secure transmission of images between ground stations in China and South Africa.
Favorable weather conditions at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University—particularly clear skies and low humidity—allowed the ground station to achieve an impressive secure key generation rate of 1.07 million bits during a single satellite pass.
Ultra-Secure Communication and a New Paradigm
Quantum communication relies on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to ensure highly secure information exchange. QKD uses individual photons to encode and transmit encryption keys. Since individual photons cannot be intercepted or copied without altering their quantum state, this technology offers unparalleled security.
China currently leads in quantum communication technologies. The country’s extensive quantum infrastructure includes a 2,000 km terrestrial fiber-based quantum network connecting 32 nodes across major cities from Beijing to Shanghai.
The South African research team was led by Dr. Yaseera Ismail from the Department of Physics at Stellenbosch University, who emphasized the importance of collaboration:
“International and national collaborative efforts are essential for advancing world-class science. Establishing the first quantum satellite link in the Southern Hemisphere is a remarkable achievement for South Africa.”
This breakthrough highlights the growing need to support and invest in quantum technologies.