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Exploring the Future of Telecommunications: Quantum Computing and its Impact on Network Security

As we stand on the precipice of a new era in telecommunications, the advent of quantum computing promises to revolutionize the industry, particularly in the realm of network security. This groundbreaking technology, which leverages the principles of quantum mechanics, is poised to redefine the way we transmit, process, and secure information.

Quantum computing operates on quantum bits, or qubits, which unlike classical bits, can exist in multiple states at once. This phenomenon, known as superposition, allows quantum computers to process vast amounts of data simultaneously, exponentially increasing computational speed and efficiency. However, the true game-changer lies in the realm of cryptography, the science of encoding and decoding information.

In the current digital landscape, network security largely relies on complex mathematical algorithms that classical computers find extremely difficult to solve. These cryptographic systems, such as RSA and ECC, form the backbone of our digital security, protecting everything from online banking transactions to confidential emails. However, with the advent of quantum computing, these traditional forms of encryption could become obsolete.

Quantum computers, with their superior computational power, could potentially crack these cryptographic codes in a fraction of the time it would take a classical computer. This presents a significant threat to network security as we know it, potentially leaving sensitive data vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

However, the same principles that pose this threat also offer a solution. Quantum cryptography, or quantum key distribution (QKD), uses the principles of quantum mechanics to create virtually unbreakable encryption. In QKD, information is encoded in quantum states of particles such as photons. Any attempt to intercept or measure these particles alters their state, immediately alerting the sender and receiver to the breach.

This unique property of quantum mechanics, known as quantum indeterminacy, ensures the absolute security of the transmitted information. Even if a third party were to intercept the quantum key, they would be unable to decode the information without altering the key itself, thereby alerting the legitimate users.

Moreover, quantum networks, which use quantum entanglement to link qubits across vast distances, could further enhance telecommunications security. Quantum entanglement, another peculiar property of quantum mechanics, allows particles to remain instantaneously connected regardless of the distance separating them. This could enable the creation of ultra-secure communication channels, impervious to eavesdropping or hacking.

While the practical implementation of quantum computing and quantum networks is still in its infancy, the potential implications for telecommunications are profound. The advent of quantum technology could herald a new era of ultra-secure, high-speed communications, transforming the way we transmit and secure information.

However, this quantum leap in technology also presents significant challenges. The potential vulnerability of current cryptographic systems underscores the urgent need for quantum-ready security measures. As we move towards a quantum future, the telecommunications industry must invest in research and development to harness the potential of quantum computing and mitigate its risks.

In conclusion, the future of telecommunications lies in the realm of quantum computing. This revolutionary technology promises to redefine network security, offering unprecedented levels of encryption and data protection. As we stand on the brink of this new era, the industry must prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, shaping a future where quantum technology drives secure, efficient, and innovative telecommunications.

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Exploring the Future of Telecommunications: Quantum Computing ... - Fagen wasanni

"For the first time in the world, we succeeded in synthesizing the room-temperature superconductor."

That's the opening line of a paper submitted by researchers at the Quantum Energy Research Centre, Inc. and Korea Universitya paper which could become a seriously big deal, if the findings are ratified. Thing is, the scientific community isn't so sure they will be.

Superconductors are absolutely key to devices such as quantum computers. They're used to form the fundamental qubit, which requires immeasurably tight operating conditions in order to produce accurate results. The issue is that we don't know of any materials that act as superconductors that don't also require extremely cool, sub-space temperatures to do so. Therein lies one problem with superconductors and their wider use today.

But superconductors have many properties that are extremely important. They're absolutely energy efficient, in theory, requiring no cooling for electrical conductivity. In this popular Tweet (X, sorry) thread from Alex Kaplan, a frozen coffee connoisseur and Princeton Physics graduate, he explains how a valid room temperature superconductor could enable lossless energy transfer, enable new nuclear fusion concepts, create incredible batteries, make entirely efficient computer chips, and even make MRI machines and MagLev trains cheaper and easier.

You can see then why a material that operates as a superconductor at room temperatures, or thereabouts, is perhaps a little exciting.

The paper lays out a superconductor called LK-99. It's easy to produce, likely mass manufacturable, and works at both ambient temperature and pressure.

But there's a catch. I've trawled through the reaction to the announcement from the scientific community and found that some are initially sceptical about the claims made in the paper.

Firstly, the paper's finding are yet to be replicated, which will be the watershed moment for any of its claims.

Then there's the news editor for the famed scientific publication New Scientist, Jacob Aron, mentioning that they're looking into this and "Spoiler: it's very likely nothing."

Ouch, that stings.

There has also been another claim to this world first breakthrough, and the reason you haven't been living in a utopia since is because that claim hasn't been well received since. In 2021, a physicist named Ranga Dias had a paper published in the Physical Review Letters journal that claimed to have discovered a room-temperature superconductor. This paper was subsequently retracted due to alleged data fabrication.

That 2021 paper is not directly linked to this one, and has no impact on its ratification, but it does show that any claim to this sort of incredible breakthrough has to be taken with heaps of salt until it's widely proven to be true.

Though you can't blame anyone for wanting this to be true. The ramifications of discovering a working room-temperature superconductor are massiveit's not an understatement to say such a breakthrough could be ultimately game-changing for society. Whether we'll see one in our lifetime, however, that is something no one can say for certain. At least this paper could be, if nothing else, a step in the right direction.

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I want this to be the most important breakthrough for computing ... - PC Gamer

Silicon Quantum Computing founder Michelle Simmons. Image: UNSW

Quantum computing startups were once again in the news this week, with Silicon Quantum Computing leading the funding charge with a massive $50.4 million raise.

Sydney-based Q-CTRL, which last week was among a number of startups to secure grant funding from the NSW government, is also in the mix this week with an addition to its Series B round, bringing the weekly total to $58.5 million.

It rounds out what has turned out to be a bumper month for startup funding; by our count 26 startups have raised a combined $311.7 million in July, with two weeks of more than $100 million bolstering this figure.

It compares to June 2023, when we reported on 25 startups having raised a combined $198.7 million.

The latest stories, funding information, and expert advice. Free to sign up.

Heres a quick look at the startups that announced new funding this week.

The Silicon Quantum Computing team. Source: Supplied

While Silicon Quantum Computing had previously aimed to raise as much as $130 million for its Series A, founder Professor Michelle Simmons described the startups $50.4 million round as being just the right amount of capital to keep us going without having to give too much of the company away.

The new funding comes from CBA, the UNSW, Telstra and the federal government, and brings the companys valuation to $195.3 million more than double the $82.8 million it was sitting at last year.

Simmons, a Scientia Professor at UNSW and former Australian of the year, founded Silicon Quantum Computing in 2017, raising $83 million in seed funding from the same investors that year.

According to the company, the latest capital raise will help it build out its team, as well as manufacturing capabilities in Australia for its full stack quantum computer.

Read more.

Q-CTRL founder Michael Biercuk (right) with Square Peg Capital investment partner Tushar Roy. Source: Supplied.

Fresh from securing $2.3 million in grant funding from the NSW governments Quantum Computing Commercialisation Fund, Sydney-based Q-CTRL has added $3.8 million (US$2.6 million) to its Series B round, reports Startup Daily.

Founded by Sydney University Professor Michael J Biercuk in 2017, Q-CTRL has now raised a total of $80 million (US$54 million) for its Series B, which includes a first tranche of $35 million in 2021 and another $39 million in February 2023.

The startups Series A raise, of $22 million, was completed in 2019 and its roster of investors now includes Salesforce Ventures, Airbus Ventures, Main Sequence, former Wallabies captain John Eales and Morpheus Ventures.

Cartelux CEO and founder Joshua Williams. Source: Supplied

A Sunshine Coast adtech platform that aims to simplify advertising has raised $3 million in post-seed funding from VC firm TEN13 and the government-owned Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC).

Cartelux, which was founded by CEO Joshua Williams in 2020, plans to use the new funding to further develop its software for the advertising industry and expand into new categories.

The startups automated marketing platform is designed to be used by global brands that have a network of retail stores or franchises that need localised and targeted marketing campaigns. Among the startups current clients are automotive brands Ford, BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Renault, Honda and Mini.

We are excited to team up with TEN13, QIC and additional investors like Tractor Ventures to form a leading global SaaS business founded in Australia, said Williams in a statement this week.

This team also gives us an experienced and professional starting point for future funding rounds.

Perth-based Koodaideri Innovation and Technology (KIT) also has new funds at its disposal, thanks to a $952,000 grant from the Western Australian Investment Attraction Fund.

As reported by the Australian Financial Review, KIT was founded by Indigenous entrepreneur Shane Lewis, who previously worked at Rio Tinto and saw first-hand the potential dangers involved when mining maintenance is performed live.

The grant from the WA government will help KIT roll out its HydraTune technology, which allows technicians to adjust and maintain machinery remotely via an app, using a wireless hydraulic tuning system.

The WA Investment Fund has so far distributed $148.4 million in grants to 40 recipients in a bid to diversify the states economy.

The founders of rental software platform Gecko say they are planning to expand into new categories in the near future, after raising $350,000 in pre-seed funding, reports Startup Daily.

The NSW government-based Techstars program led the round, which also included US-based Goodwater Capital and Launch House.

Founded by Ben Kennedy, Lal Birch and Cody Fisher-Peel, Gecko aims to simplify the process of renting equipment for events, as well as improve the profitability of rental companies, 120 of which are already using the platform.

Gecko is also one of the 12 startups that are participating in the inaugural Techstars Tech Central accelerator program.

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Five Aussie startups that raised $58.5 million this week - SmartCompany

While generative AI is catching everyones imagination, Quantum computing is seen as a technology that could have potential impact in the coming years. However, there is a converging point of both the technologies.

Generative is an exciting technology; however, it doesnt come cheap.It cost OpenAI millions of dollars to make the technology accessible for all. The costs encompass both the expenses involved in training Large Language Models (LLMs) like the GPT models ( which powers ChatGPT) and the ongoing costs of running these models to respond to user queries. Training and running generative AI models require substantial computational resources, making them compute-intensive, financially burdensome, and environmental costs.

Future quantum computers and quantum-inspired techniques promise to address these challenges and make Generative AI more accessible, efficient, and advanced. The increased processing power of Quantum Computers can enable faster computations than the classical computer by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics. This may allow for faster processing of large-scale generative models, enabling more complex and realistic outputs within shorter timeframes, Aan S. Chauhan, chief technology officer, LTIMindtree, told AIM.

Moreover, efficient data processing through Quantum Computing can help process larger datasets and more efficiently uncover the patterns and anomalies within the data. Quantum computers can also solve optimisation problems in generative AI models more efficiently than classical computers resulting in improved performance and generation capabilities. Additionally, it can add value through improved sampling techniques, generating solutions beyond image and text, etc.

However, Chauhan does stress that were still in the early days of quantum computing and the full potential of how much it can advance generative AI will depend on advancements in hardware, algorithms, and further research in the field.

Quantum computing research at LTIMindtree

In the present day, LTIMindtree is indulging in significant research when it comes to quantum computing. Our research effort primarily aims to perform applied research to unearth the potential benefits Quantum technology could yield in the short, medium, and long term for all the industries we cater to.

As the technology matures from the current Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) phase towards the era of Fault-tolerant Quantum Computing, the IT services companys research endeavours are centred on extracting incremental value from this evolving technology. To accomplish this, we have deployed a multi-skilled team of physicists and software engineers actively developing Quantum Computing use cases catering to sectors like banking, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, logistics, etc. Our initial focus for these use cases is Quantum Optimisation, Quantum Machine Learning, and Quantum Simulation.

Moreover, the advent of Quantum Computing is paving the way for novel forms of cyber-attacks, including the concept of harvest now, decrypt later, according to Chauhan. This implies that cyber attackers could store encrypted data today and decrypt it later using a sufficiently powerful Quantum computer. Recognising this trend, were actively developing capabilities in solutions for Post-Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to help enterprises mitigate these risks.

How can Quantum Computing benefit Indian IT?

The Indian IT sector has been crucial in spearheading global digital transformation over the past few decades. According to Chauhan, the sector has acquired extensive domain knowledge across various industry verticals by leading this transformation. This unique combination of experience in building complex IT systems and deep domain understanding positions the Indian IT sector favourably to implement research findings of the emerging Quantum technology into practical applications.

Opportunity is enormous for IT service providers to introduce innovative new products and offerings around quantum technologies. One such avenue is leading in developing quantum-classical hybrid workflows, where integrating quantum computing with conventional computing allows for the extraction of incremental value. For example, conventional High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems can benefit from quantum-inspired algorithms for optimisation tasks, amplifying their computational capabilities.

Another avenue is post-quantum cryptography, where Indian IT companies can create encryption/security offerings to meet the rising demand for advanced data protection. Beyond these examples, there could be many novel ideas around quantum machine learning, simulation, etc.

Moreover, the IT industry has the potential to make a noteworthy contribution to developing a highly influential quantum-ready workforce through partnerships with research institutes and universities, reskilling initiatives, and targeted training programmes.

By collaborating with leading research institutes, organisations can ensure their position at the forefront of harnessing this evolving cutting-edge technology to address real-world business challenges as the technology matures effectively.

Indias quantum computing ambitions

Earlier this year, the Indian government greenlit the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with a budget of INR 6003.65 crore spanning from 2023-24 to 2030-31. The missions objective is to foster scientific and industrial R&D, nurture growth in Quantum technology, and create a dynamic and innovative Quantum technology ecosystem.

Chauhan said Quantum technologies offer immense potential in addressing complex problems spanning societal, industrial, and national security interests. Achieving self-reliance in this domain is of utmost priority and the National Quantum Mission is a step in this direction.

By facilitating the development of intermediate-scale quantum computers, establishing secure quantum communications networks, and advancing research in quantum materials and devices, the mission paves the way for creating ground-breaking applications across sectors, including communication, health, financial services, energy, security, etc.

Additionally, the planned four thematic hubs, Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices, will be platforms for collaborative and consolidated research efforts between leading research institutes, academia, and industries. These efforts will drive faster innovation toward addressing critical challenges and developing ground-breaking quantum technologies.

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Quantum Computing Will Make GenAI More Advanced - Analytics India Magazine

The digital revolution has been built on a foundation of classical bits, which represent either a 0 or a 1. However, a new paradigm shift in computing is on the horizon one that utilizes quantum bits, or qubits, which can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. Quantum computing, once confined to the realms of theoretical physics, is emerging as a reality. For CEOs, understanding the potential, pitfalls, and realities of this technology is imperative.

At its core, quantum computing leverages the principles of quantum mechanics superposition and entanglement to process information. The former allows qubits to exist in multiple states at once, while the latter facilitates instantaneous connections between them, no matter the distance. This combination enables quantum computers to solve complex problems exponentially faster than traditional computers.

The quantum advantage comes from the fact that a quantum computer can examine a vast number of possibilities at once. For instance, a quantum computer could swiftly find the shortest route among several options, solve complex optimization problems, or model complex chemical reactions.

Though the hardware and the technological expertise to build and maintain quantum computers remain costly and scarce, Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) is becoming a reality. Tech giants like IBM and Google have pioneered quantum cloud platforms, providing businesses access to quantum processing power without the need to invest in expensive infrastructure or specialized talent.

For CEOs, the emergence of QCaaS means the barrier to entry into quantum computing has significantly lowered. Businesses can start integrating quantum solutions into their operations, initiating pilot projects, and training their workforce on quantum algorithms and software.

One of the areas where quantum computing could have a profound impact is data security. Quantum computers can, in theory, easily crack many current forms of encryption. The RSA encryption, a standard in securing online data, could be broken by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer, rendering most of our current data protection methods useless.

However, quantum computing also offers a solution in the form of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). QKD allows the creation of theoretically uncrackable encryption keys through quantum states, ushering in the possibility of quantum-safe encryption. As such, CEOs must think about long-term strategies for their data security and consider investing in quantum-safe encryption methods.

Lets look at five practical tips for any CEO to get ready for quantum computing:

Quantum computing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. CEOs must first understand if and how quantum can add value to their specific business. For industries like logistics, finance, or pharmaceuticals, which handle complex optimization problems or simulations, quantum could offer substantial advantages.

Engage with QCaaS providers to pilot quantum projects. By leveraging the cloud, businesses can learn more about quantum's practical benefits and challenges without significant upfront investment.

Invest in training your team in quantum computing concepts, languages, and tools. This might involve collaborations with universities, dedicated training programs, or hiring new talent with a background in quantum information.

Start thinking about quantum-safe encryption now. While we don't have a large-scale, practical quantum computer yet, encrypted data being transmitted now could be harvested and stored for decryption by future quantum computers.

Join industry consortia or groups dedicated to quantum computing. Stay up-to-date on the latest research, breakthroughs, and discussions around standards and regulations.

Quantum computing is no longer an abstract concept. It is a growing reality with significant implications for businesses across industries. It offers unprecedented opportunities, but it also introduces new risks, especially regarding data security. As a CEO, now is the time to build your understanding of quantum computing, assess its potential for your business, and take proactive steps to integrate this technology into your strategic planning.

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Quantum Computing: What Every CEO Needs to Know - Bernard Marr