Port of Rotterdam to implement secure, quantum technology project

Q*Bird, a spinoff from QuTech, a research institute into quantum computing between TNO and TU Delft, is the first to deploy a new type of secure quantum network that can connect multiple users via a central hub.

The result is an untappable internet connection between users across the port area.

The central hub of the system will be situated at Port of Rotterdam Authority and will connect users to the port’s data sharing platform, Portbase, and two or three other maritime logistic companies that are based in the port of Rotterdam.

The setup enables connecting all end-users with a secure, untappable connection.

The first four end-users can be expanded later to many more. The users will share keys that are generated using quantum technology that they will use to encrypt messages using traditional technology.

The strength of this type of setup is the ease by which it can be expanded to many more users, and the relative low cost of expansion.

Listen to the Seatrade Maritime Podcast featuring Allard Castelein, CEO, Port of Rotterdam Authority

Securing the Port of Rotterdam’s communication systems, which are pivotal for the movement of around 15m teu per year, will improve the safety of tens of thousands of sea ships yearly.

“A quantum communication infrastructure will ensure an untappable connection and will improve the logistics chains of which Rotterdam is a part of, even more so a vital infrastructure on the European continent,” the port of Rotterdam said in a statement.

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“Our technology is based on a special implementation of quantum key distribution (QKD) that uses a central hub to connect users that want to exchange secure communications,” explained Q*Bird’s Co-Founder and Director Remon Berrevoets.