News

On 27.11.2024, representatives of the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre Sanita Abrate and Kārlis Kurgs travelled to Brussels (Belgium) to participate in the EuroQCI working groups, representing LATQN and Latvia. Working groups aim to discuss the clarifications and next steps that are necessary for the creation of a single European network.

In the 5G Techritory discussion “Quantum Safe and Data Center Security”, Dmitrijs Nikitins, Technical Director of TET, presented his vision on the latest solutions in network security, data encryption and application of quantum technologies to protect critical infrastructure and promote cybersecurity development

Technology company Tet has identified data security requirements in the healthcare sector and installed the first maximum-security data transmission equipment using quantum encryption technology in a medical facility.

Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia, Kaspars Briškens, at the 5G Techritory forum’s second day opening, gave an engaging and clear in its message speech emphasizing Latvia’s significant role and success in driving the future of digital connectivity in Europe and beyond, emphasizing also LATQN project

ECO organized a co-creation event on the 30th of October titled “”Quantum Fusion: Seamlessly Integrating QKD Optical Networks into Wireless Communication Networks”” within the framework of the “”LATQN”” project. The aim of the event is to share experience on QKD technology and its application possibilities in 5G, Wi-Fi and IoT networks.
During the event, ECO engineers demonstrated the results of the LATQN project so far and informed about the planned activities. In addition, Leo Trukšāns, the leading quantum encryption engineer at the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, explained how quantum technologies can potentially ensure secure service use and data transmission in the future.

Apply and participate in the VAS Elektroniskie sakari co-working event “Quantum Fusion: Seamlessly Integrating QKD Optical Networks into Wireless Communication Networks – 5G, Wi-Fi & IoT”, which will explain how quantum technologies can transform data security in critical sectors such as banking, healthcare and defence.
Listen to a presentation by Leo Trukšāns, Lead Quantum Key Distribution Engineer at the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, on the project “”Development of experimental quantum communication infrastructure in Latvia””.

Launched in 2023 and coordinated by LVRTC, the project brings together LVRTC, Tet.lv, the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Latvia and Electronic Communications Office of Latvia.

Digital Breakfast Radio’s conversation about quantum technologies and their development in Latvia also mentioned the LATQN project and its importance in the creation of a national quantum infrastructure.

As part of the First International Quantum Photonics Conference in Latvia on 22nd of October 2024, RTU representative Andis Supe spoke about quantum communication systems, also sharing ECOS’s vision to integrate quantum technologies into wireless communication networks within the framework of the LATQN project

The demand for secure, high-performance networks is growing. And quantum key distribution network (QKD) technology, which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to create unbreakable data encryption, is a key solution to today’s communication security challenges.
In 2023, work began in Latvia on a scientifically significant national-level quantum communication infrastructure system and network development project (LATQN). It is being implemented by the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre in cooperation with Tet, the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the University of Latvia, and VAS Elektroniskie sakari.

On 7 October, Project Manager Kārlis Kurgs presented to the Quantum Memorandum partners what the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre has achieved in the framework of the project “Development of experimental quantum communication infrastructure in Latvia”:

• All 3 QKD pairs are operational on the 17km LVRTC optical network routes, with performance close to nominal (SKR 250-300kB/s);
• QKD performance tested on a 50km LVRTC optical network link with ~10dB attenuation together with an additional passive 10dB attenuator simulating ~100km (~20dB) in total;
• Performance corresponding to an attenuation of SKR 16kb/s;
• A single 3 QKD network is powered by a manufacturer-supplied Key Management System (KMS) that provides key retrieval from any pair of nodes;
• The QKD network uses LVRTC certificates and has a system for assigning them to key service servers and users in a real network.

Quantum Memorandum partners meet for regular meeting at EDI – Institute of Electronics and Computer Science Representatives of the partners shared the latest developments in the sector:

• on quantum co-creation events and panel discussions at the 5G Techritory International Forum
• events in the academic sector;
• on the progress of the LATQN project “”Development of experimental quantum communication infrastructure in Latvia””
• the plans for the Transatlantic Quantum Community
• the Quantum Computer Optimisation project and the Digital Europa competition.

The second part of the meeting was a chance to get hands-on with just a small part of the EDI – Institute of Electronics and Computer Science’s projects – self-driving cars, different types of sensors, smart clothing and computer vision and robotics innovations.

We would like to thank the EDI – Institute of Electronics and Computer Science team for their warm welcome.

Quantum key distribution equipment is received and installed. Today, the equipment received from Toshiba has been installed in the data centre of the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre and interoperability tests have started. The special process was attended by Evijs Taube, Member of the Board of the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, and Leo Trukšāns, Leading Quantum Key Engineer, Andy Grant, Head of Quantum Technologies at Toshiba, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Defence – Edgars Liepiņš, Director of the Information and Communications Technology Department and Mārtiņš Plīkšs, Project Manager of the Information and Communications Technology Project Management and Policy Planning Division.

If you couldn’t tune in to the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre’s live webcast on quantum technology development “Quantum technologies in Latvia – opportunities, safety, challenges” on 18 July, you can do it now at your convenience.

Find out what leading industry experts think about the development of quantum technologies. Leo Trukšāns, Quantum Quantum Engineer at the Riga Technical University, Tālis Juhna, Rector of Riga Technical University, Dmitrijs Ņikitins, Board Member of Tet.lv, Guntars Kitenbergs, Vice Rector of the University of Latvia and Gatis Ozols, Deputy State Secretary for Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development. Moderator – Artis Ozoliņš.

The live broadcast took place at the event of the Memorandum “On Cooperation in the Development of Quantum Technologies in Latvia” initiated by the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EDI – Institute of Electronics and Computer Science joined the existing partners.

On 18 July, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Institute of Electronics and Computer science will join the Memorandum on Cooperation in the Development of Quantum Technologies in Latvia initiated by the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC) at the Zaķusala Television (TV) Tower.
The event included the accession of new partners to the Memorandum and the signing of the Memorandum documents.Last autumn, on the initiative of LVRTC, a Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding was prepared and signed by various public administration authorities, scientific institutions and private companies, as well as information technology (IT) industry leaders, to promote joint action and cooperation in the development and implementation of quantum technologies in Latvia.

The event was attended by:

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže
• Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds
• Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens
• Director of EDI, Modris Greitans
• Chairman of the LVRTC Board Ģirts Ozols
• Chairman of the Board of SJSC “”Elektroniskie sakari”” Jānis Bārda
• Vice-Rector of the University of Latvia Guntars Kitenbergs
• Deputy Director, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia Ausma Grīnfelde
• Rector of Riga Technical University Tālis Juhna
• Member of the Board of “”Latvijas mobilais telefons”” Ltd, Ingmārs Pūķis
• Member of the Board, “”TET”” Ltd, Dmitrijs Ņikitins
• Chairman of the Board of Mikrotik, John Martin Tally.
• Deputy State Secretary for Digital Transformation of the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development Gatis Ozols

Can the internet go down? The communications infrastructure that gives us fast and affordable internet services is an essential resource for all sectors of the economy. How secure or vulnerable is it and what needs to be done today to ensure that communications are secure in the quantum era?

On 2 July, Leo Trukšāns, a leading quantum key distribution engineer, represents LATQN and LVRTC, alongside Tet, at the EuroQCI and Ireland’s NatQCI conference. Leo is participating in discussions on the future EuroQCI network architecture, the details of crypto-key routing and relay functions, as well as the compliance of existing QKD solutions with existing and emerging standards and the future interoperability of national networks.

On 28 and 29 May, the Nordic QCI event took place in Estonia, with delegations from Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Sweden. These countries are currently implementing national projects under the EuroQCI programme and the aim of the event was to strengthen transnational cooperation and establish new contacts. Latvia was represented at the event by the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre and Tet.lv .

The delegations presented the results of the projects, discussed the challenges and participated in practical workshops, carrying out various tests on QKD equipment.
The peer-to-peer discussions covered the possibilities for international connectivity, how key relay solutions work via trusted-node and the security aspects of quantum technologies.

Within the event, some improvement aspects were identified in the EuroQCI CEF call context. First drafting of the public letter as done by Estonians.

29th April

Will quantum communication and computing make us safer in virtual space, or on the contrary, will they open up new opportunities for cyber criminals to commit crimes on a larger scale?

This is the topic of the programme’s conversation with people whose daily work is most directly related to quanta: Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs, tenure-track professor in physics at the University of Latvia; Leo Trukšāns, associate professor at the University of Latvia, lead engineer of quantum key distribution at the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre; and Sergejs Kozlovičs, PhD in computer science, associate professor at the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Latvia.

On 19 April we met with a delegation from the Niels Bohr Institute, to whom we presented projects highlighting the development of quantum technologies in Latvia.

On 10 April, Armando Nolasco Pinto, Professor and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Telecommunications, University of Aveiro, Portugal, visited the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre. During the meeting, LVRTC presented the LATQN project, the objectives to be achieved and future plans. Professor Pinto shared information on the Portuguese national quantum communication project and the deployment of the Portuguese quantum communication network within the European EuroQCI.

29th February
Today our colleague Leo Trukšāns represents the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre at the 82nd International Scientific Conference “Quantum Technologies in Latvia” at the University of Latvia.

15th February
What are quantum technologies, when and where will we be able to use them, and is post-quantum security possible? Watch or listen to an expert discussion from the 2023 5G Techritory Forum, which also featured Leo Trukšāns, lead quantum key distribution engineer at the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre.

On 18 December 2023, representatives of the LATQN partners (LVRTC, Tet, VASES) and the Latvian Quantum Initiative met with colleagues from quantum communication projects in Estonia and Finland.

The event not only shared the development, experiences and challenges of national quantum projects, but also provided participants with a number of experience-based ideas to take board from neighbouring projects.

On 8 October 2023, as part of the 5G Techritory Forum, a co-creation event “Embracing the Quantum Era” took place. Leo Trukšāns, Lead Quantum Key Distribution Engineer at the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre, will speak about the project “Development of experimental quantum communication infrastructure in Latvia” alongside colleagues from Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands and other countries.

4th October 2023

Our colleague Leo Trukšāns outlines the challenges of building a quantum communications network. We are honoured to be one of the guests, listeners and speakers of the international conference “CyberChess 2023” organised by CERT.lv! Sharing knowledge and experience locally and regionally is an essential prerequisite for ensuring the security of the digital space!

26th September 2023

SJSC “Latvian State Radio and Television Centre is an important provider of critical ICT services to the country. Data transmission over fibre-optic networks is one of the most important components of reliable service delivery. As part of this project, we plan to deploy quantum key encryption equipment on several key links of the LVRTC optical network, thus ensuring the next level of security for transmitted data,” emphasises LVRTC Board member Evijs Taube.