Latvia creates the Baltic region’s first quantum communications backbone – national-level quantum communications infrastructure system and network development project has been completed 

This autumn marks the end of a three-year project to establish a national quantum communication infrastructure system and network. During this time, in cooperation with the SJSC Latvian State Radio and Television Center (hereinafter referred to as LVRTC), LLC Tet, Electronic Communications Office of Latvia, and the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Latvia (hereinafter referred to as ICMS UL), a set of activities was implemented to create the backbone of the national-level base infrastructure for the quantum key distribution (hereinafter referred to as QCI) network. 

During the project, QCI integration into existing communication networks and public sector data transmission research was carried out, secure QCI interconnections were established for 5G testing, quantum key transmission tests were conducted in healthcare and financial sector institutions, data transmission encryption over extreme distances was tested, including with the aim of establishing inter-country connections in the future to integrate into a unified European QCI network, as well as educational seminars and knowledge dissemination to various target groups.  

“Quantum technology development in Latvia has significant growth and innovation potential. Latvia is becoming a regional center for quantum technology research and development, so it is essential that national and international projects are implemented in Latvia that not only satisfy academic curiosity, but also create infrastructure and solutions for secure data transmission solutions for quantum computers,” emphasized Andulis Židkovs, State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, at the project’s closing ceremony.  

During the event, the project partners presented the solutions and research findings they had developed, emphasizing that the most important thing is not to stop at conclusions but to begin their targeted implementation in various sectors of the economy.  

The lead partner of the project was LVRTC. Evijs Taube, member of the LVRTC board, emphasizes that the project has achieved significant results and practical application experience. “The first QCI network in the Baltics has been created. This means that Latvia is confidently becoming a technology leader, providing a foundation for further infrastructure development both in Latvia and in international connections.”  

During the project, an open-source key management system was created that allows for the secure management of quantum keys, as well as setting upper limits for the technology’s performance in order to be included in a unified European quantum communications network in the future.  

Leo Trukšāns, quantum engineer lead at LVRTC and associate professor at the University of Latvia, emphasizes that the project has resulted in the creation of a fully functional network in Latvia. “The network created is not one that has been tested in laboratory conditions and worked once or twice, but a fully functional network that is already being used and will continue to be used by various partners with different devices. We have three partners, different manufacturers of quantum key distribution devices, each with their own key management system and different encryptors. In Europe, such results in the first project are a rarity!” emphasizes L. Trukšāns.  

During the project, ICT specialists have also been trained to ensure the delivery of quantum technology opportunities to end users in the near future, recognizing both the importance of this technology in all areas of the economy and the threats that will become a reality if Latvia does not prepare for the arrival of quantum computers on the market in a timely manner.  

ICMS UL Development Director Dr.sc.comp. Rihards Balodis, emphasizes that in preparation for the quantum era, researchers are intensively developing communication networks for quantum key exchange and quantum-resistant data encryption, integrating protected photon flow communication channels into classical telecommunications networks.  

“We test the created network backbone, adapt communication channels to quantum photon flows – we create quantum key distribution (QCI) processing systems. Nowadays, data security is a central issue in the ICT sector. We see that there is no single useful “quantum communication solution” for all information systems, but by analyzing network connections, we can create a customized “quantum data protection shield” for each one. Just as there is no single cure for all diseases, but each situation has its own cure. The use of quantum mechanics solutions allows for a significant improvement in the protection of customer data and communications, emphasizes Dr.sc.comp. Rihards Balodis.  

Electronic Communications Office of Latvia participated in the project to investigate how QCI technologies can be integrated into wireless communication networks. The main task was to create and operate a test environment in which existing wireless 5G, Wi-Fi, and IoT (Internet of Things) systems were connected to QCI optical networks. This made it possible to test data encryption, transmission, and application performance under various technical conditions. 

“The experiments conducted during the project allowed us to verify in practice that quantum and wireless technologies can coexist safely and effectively. Our goal was not only to test the compatibility of the technologies, but also to understand how quantum security solutions can be adapted to existing and future communication networks. The results confirm that the integration of quantum key distribution and random number generation solutions into today’s wireless environment is technically feasible, provided that stable synchronization and precise system configuration are ensured. This is an important step towards a secure communications infrastructure, which will be one of the cornerstones of the digital environment in the future,” says Jānis Bārda, Chairman of the Board of Electronic Communications Office of Latvia. 

These conclusions provide valuable insight into the future implementation of secure quantum communication systems and strengthen Latvia’s role in the development of innovative and reliable communication infrastructure.  

During the project, LLC Tet successfully conducted quantum technology-based data transmission tests in healthcare institutions — specifically, in seven medical institutions of Riga East University Hospital (RAKUS). During the tests, simulated medical and patient data was transmitted to assess the effectiveness and security of quantum key distribution (QCI) technology. The results confirmed that this technology is capable of ensuring the highest security standards for the transmission of medical and personal data.

“It should be emphasized that this was the first time in Latvia and the Baltic States that such quantum key distribution tests were conducted involving a real hospital and its infrastructure. Similar tests were also successfully carried out in financial institutions, where simulated financial data was transmitted using real infrastructure. The results confirmed that QCI-based quantum secure technologies work correctly and are capable of ensuring the highest level of security for the transmission of sensitive data,” emphasizes Guna Soloveja, Head of the Research and Business Development Department at Tet.  

About the project: 

Project number: LATQN, ID No. 101091559 

The total project implementation amount is EUR 8,061,380. The project is co-financed by the European Union. EUR 2,736,440 of the total eligible costs were covered by state budget funding. EUR 1,294,250 was co-financed by partners, while 50% of the total amount, or EUR 4,030,690, was co-financed by the European Union.  

The activities carried out in the project are part of the EuroQCI initiative and will contribute to the achievement of the overall objectives of the Digital Europe program, as the Quantum Network can be used to ensure the secure use of services for the needs of public sector institutions, businesses and individuals. The project falls within the field of cybersecurity, which is one of the areas covered by the Digital Europe program.    

The project will be implemented from January 1, 2023, and will be completed on December 31, 2025.  

Project partners: 

• Lead partner and project coordinator – SJSC Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC)
• Private sector partner – LLC “Tet”
• Research partner – Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Latvia (ICMS UL)
• Public sector partner – Electronic Communications Office of Latvia