Singapore’s National Quantum-Safe Network (NQSN) testbed is among 15 finalists selected from an initial pool of 1500 submissions from 146 countries for a Digital Frontiers award. The network demonstrates a significant physical investment with 1,500 kilometers of deployed fiber connecting a central node at the National University of Singapore to partner locations across the island. Established in 2022, the NQSN testbed supports Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy by enabling collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies.
NQSN Testbed Advances Quantum Key Distribution and Post-Quantum Cryptography
These trials are designed to secure data transfer between data centers and cloud computing systems, addressing the growing threat quantum computing poses to current encryption methods. Alexander Ling, Principal Investigator at Singapore’s Centre for Quantum Technologies and Professor in the National University of Singapore’s Department of Physics, emphasizes the significance of this international recognition. He stated that recognition for Singapore’s work on building a quantum-safe network, and for sharing the lessons openly, is a strong validation of the effort that the team and partners have put into the testbed over the past few years.
The goal is to demonstrate what the infrastructure of the future might look like. Established in 2022 as part of Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy, the NQSN currently involves ten academic staff and students dedicated to advancing quantum-safe technologies.
The NQSN’s contributions extend beyond practical implementation to the development of international standards for quantum key distribution, a focus highlighted by Hao Qin, a CQT Senior Research Fellow. Qin explains that the testbed has a long partnership with ITU, one of the organizers of this award, through their standardization work on QKD. The testbed also serves as a crucial platform for collaboration, allowing solution providers and end-users to address the challenges of quantum-safe migration.
Haw Jing Yan, a CQT Senior Research Fellow involved in the network’s trials, says that quantum-safe migration is complex, and the testbed provides a space for solution providers and end users to work through practical gaps together. The Digital@UNGA platform will announce the winners at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 21.
Quantum-safe migration is not a trivial journey. The testbed gives solution providers and end users a place to work through the practical gaps together with us.
Jing Yan, who works on the testbed trials
Singapore’s NQSN Shortlisted for UN Digital Frontiers Award Recognition
The award, presented by the Digital@UNGA platform convened by the International Telecommunication Union and United Nations Development Programme, recognizes digital technologies demonstrating a positive global impact. The NQSN is unique among the shortlisted projects as the sole initiative focused on quantum technologies. Organizers consider both the development of technologies and leadership in advancing their ethical, safe, and responsible development and use, demonstrating strong governance, future readiness, measurable impact, and potential to scale. Currently operated by ten academic staff and students, the NQSN team collaborates with over 30 organizations.
International recognition for Singapore’s work on building a quantum-safe network, and for sharing the lessons openly, is a huge validation on the effort that our team and partners have put into our testbed over the past few years. Our goal is to show what the infrastructure of the future might look like.
Alexander Ling, Principal Investigator at Singapore’s Centre for Quantum Technologies and Professor in the National University of Singapore’s Department of Physics
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