What should we make of this press release from MagiQ Technologies? The press release cites two advances:
The first breakthrough demonstrates there are no distance limitations to MagiQ’s quantum cryptography solution. Utilizing Verizon’s commercial fiber infrastructure, MagiQ successfully bridged two separate spans of 80km by cascading a number of MagiQ’s QPN 7505 devices. The commercial fiber network is made up of spans, typically 80km, linked together to complete metro area networks and long haul networks. Cascading of quantum cryptography devices enables the deployment of quantum cryptography throughout the telecommunications network.
and
The second breakthrough demonstrates that quantum keys can be mixed with other optical signals on one strand of fiber. Previously, quantum cryptography devices required a dedicated dark fiber strand, which is costly and not always available, for the transmission of quantum keys. The multiplexing of quantum
keys with data on one strand significantly reduces the cost of deploying quantum cryptography.
The first item sounds like they are performing some sort of key infrastructure and not quantum repeaters, right? I wonder how many of these MagicQ systems are actually in use right now? Ah the world of cryptography, where every sentence I write is a question?
They can’t possibly have quantum repeaters. MagicQ is mainly commercial wrapping for non-proprietary advances. Maybe they have a few good proprietary ideas, but they don’t walk on water.
So how long before quantum repeaters are feasible for QKD? I’m betting it happens before Jesus rises (caaaaan’t resisssssst baaaad pun!)
Wow, there’s a lot of double-speak going on there but in the end I don’t think they are saying that much.
I wish I could get a job writing press releases like these. Then I could probably take the step up to a job as a media advisor in the Republican party.
Hi Dave,
This is a new comment on an old post, but there’s a Wired article out where a swiss company claims that they have a practical quantum crypto system that they’re using for transmitting results of voting.
I was curious if you knew anything more about this ?
Here’s the link: