As part of the QCIHungary project, BME, the University of Technology and Economics has signed a contract to purchase a quantum-capable optical ground station from the Austrian company Quantum Technology Laboratories GmbH (qtlabs), which will enable it to conduct quantum key distribution experiments with quantum communication satellites, ensuring Hungary’s presence in the next generation of cybersecurity technologies.

The quantum-enabled optical ground station will be located in the Mobile Communications and Quantum Technologies Laboratory of the Department of Network Systems and Services at BME.

In his welcoming speech at the event announcing the investment on 14 May, Dr. Gergely Zaránd, Vice Rector of BME, highlighted BME’s commitment to cutting-edge technologies, including quantum technologies. Dr. Sándor Imre, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at BME, the technical leader of the QCIHungary project, said stressed the investment was an important milestone not only for the university but also for Hungary. Dr László Bacsárdi, head of the laboratory, said that in recent years they had been working to transfer quantum communication from theory to practice. The new optical ground station is a significant step towards participating in satellite quantum communication experiments and further developing protocols essential for future quantum internet.

Dr. Rupert Ursin, Founder and Managing Director of Quantum Technology Laboratories GmbH (qtlabs), the manufacturer, also spoke at the event. He expressed his pride that qtlabs was taking a leading role in European satellite quantum communications and underlined that the delivery of the optical ground station to the Budapest partner was an important step in strengthening the secure communications infrastructure in Central Europe.

Photos by: Gyöngyvér Mester