QTI, together with Telsy, TIM Enetrprise, and a high-caliber consortium, has successfully implemented the first long-distance quantum communication network connecting Naples and Rome.
Local QKD networks in both cities, protected by Quell-X systems, are now interconnected via a PQC backbone powered by the Ekate devices, enabling true end-to-end encryption across the full link.
This isn’t just a technical demo; it is a decisive shift in how we secure critical national infrastructure against the looming threats of the quantum era.
A Concrete Blueprint for Sovereign Encryption
What makes the Naples-Rome link a global benchmark is its hybrid architecture. While others wait for future hardware, this project utilizes existing fiber-optic communication infrastructure to integrate two powerhouse security layers:
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Leveraging the laws of physics to ensure keys cannot be intercepted without detection.
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Advanced mathematical algorithms designed to resist the processing power of future quantum computers.
This combination provides a scalable and sovereign encryption model that addresses the two biggest hurdles in the industry: distance and interoperability. By maintaining compatibility with current telecommunications networks, it offers a robust defense without requiring a total overhaul of existing systems.
The Power of Strategic Synergy
This achievement is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between Italian industrial leaders and academic excellence.
Alessandra Michelini, Chief Executive Officer of Telsy, declares:
“With the implementation of the first long‑distance quantum communication network between Naples and Rome, Italy demonstrates that it has reached a concrete level of maturity in bringing quantum‑safe technologies out of the laboratories and into real infrastructures. The true value of this project lies in the ability to operate as a system—bringing together industry, universities, and research institutions. From the integration of QKD and PQC to use cases in healthcare and energy, data protection becomes an enabling factor. In this context, the contribution of the TIM Group is increasingly decisive in translating technological complexity into reliable and scalable solutions, strengthening the cyber security of critical infrastructures and guiding the country toward a new paradigm of digital resilience.”
Angelo Giuliana, General Manager of the MedITech Competence Center, emphasizes the market-ready nature of this project:
“Quantum communication and cryptography represent today two strategic assets of Meditech, which, with their high level of technological maturity, are capable of guaranteeing high standards of security in data transmission and convincing openings to the market.”
Why This Matters Today
We are currently living in the era of “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later,” where encrypted data is being intercepted today with the intent of unlocking it once quantum computers are sufficiently powerful. By deploying this long-range network, the consortium is proving that quantum-safe technologies are ready for real-world infrastructure.
Italy is no longer just preparing for the quantum future—it is building it.
External links:
https://www.corrierecomunicazioni.it/digital-economy/quantum-tra-roma-e-napoli-la-prima-rete-ibrida-in-italia/
