Satellite quantum jump: RSCC and Russian Railways agree to cooperate in satellite quantum communications development

On April 5, Alexey Volin, Director General of Russian Satellite Communications Company, and Anatoly Khramtsov, Deputy CEO and Chief Engineer of Russian Railways JSCo, signed a cooperation agreement. It is aimed at developing a quantum communications system based on RSCC satellites and ground infrastructure for the transmission of quantum-secure data. The document was signed at the InfoSpace forum in Moscow.

The companies will promote the development of an ecosystem, creation of services based on the technology and ensure information exchange and expert support of joint profiled projects.

"The global market of quantum communications is growing rapidly; it already hit $300 mn in 2021 (of which $100 mn were for the services). This technology has got a huge potential, so we are happy to work with Russian Railways on building space-based quantum communication networks. Their development is strategically important. In future we will see how quantum solutions can be applied in the designing of our new satellites", said Alexey Volin, Director General of RSCC.

"Our cooperation will allow us to develop new domestic products and services, to replace foreign technology, and to form a common information space of the Russian Federation in the future by using the capabilities of the multi-satellite constellation of RSCC and the trunk quantum network of Russian Railways", emphasized Anatoly Khramtsov.

The cooperation agreement between RSCC and Russian Railways ensures the implementation of the road map for the development of the high-tech "Quantum Communications" area for the period up to 2030.