Mastering technologies encryption by launching Tuesday 16 August, a satellite quantum communication. Beijing itself apart by providing testing, spatially, a key transmission technique deemed inviolable encoding, based on the laws of physics quantum. The project is closely followed by physicists but also by the military.
A Long March 2-D rocket fired Tuesday at 1 h 40 from the Jiuquan base in the Gobi Desert, placed in orbit a satellite quantum experiment in spatial scale (Quess, the acronym). Also nicknamed Mozi, after the Chinese philosopher and scientist of the V th century BC, it will, over a two-year mission to test sending hypersécurisées keys.
“Such means speak volumes about China’s ambitions. She does not hesitate to invest huge sums in this research, ” says Hoi Kwong Lo, quantum cryptography researcher at the University of Toronto ( Canada ). Quantum Research is one of the priorities of the thirteenth five-year plan, roadmap presented in March and which will guide the Chinese economy until the end of 2020.
Encryption Keys
For its part, the US National Council of Science and Technology notes in a report released July 26 that if the United States currently spend $ 200 million (€ 177 million) per year in this area of research, the pace progress in the field of quantum information suffered from “instability” of funding.
The Chinese satellite protocol uses quantum properties of photons that can be correlated such that modify one immediately changes its twin, therefore betraying an unwanted response.
Launch of Chinese satelite quantum encryption by rocket Long March 2 in Jiuquan (Gobi) August 16, 2016.
If the signals passing between the satellite and the Earth are intercepted by a spy, the source will be appreciated immediately and will not use the information sent. message encryption key can thus be transmitted without risk, while ensuring the security of communications.
Behind this project is a Chinese scientist, Pan Jianwei. In the late 1990s, Mr. Pan wrote his thesis at the University of Vienna, under the direction of a researcher in quantum physics, Anton Zeilinger. This tells you asked a little later to the European Union (EU) to support a program of development of a quantum satellite without obtaining the funding.
For their part, the Chinese have seen the strategic applications of such technology, seeing it as a national interest. Mr. Pan, became vice president of China University of Science and Technology, made in 2011, the head of the new program.
“Many people think that quantum communications will play a role, particularly in the future of the Internet. It is dual-use, we can both encrypt military and commercial communication, it will be only a matter of applications, ” summarizes Professor Zeilinger telephone, which assists Pan Jianwei the Chinese project and was present at the rocket launch.
In May, Mr. Pan was referring to the National Security Agency files leaks (NSA) to justify the development by China of new encryption technologies. “If Edward Snowden has taught us that in networks transmission, information is expos ed to the risk of being monitored and attacked by hackers, ” he said in the official press. China’s first test secure communications between Beijing and Urumqi, a large city in western remote countries 2 400 km, and between the Chinese capital and that of Austria .
Quantum encryption technology is already used on the ground, for example in the trial between banks connected by optical fiber , but on very limited distances. “We know for years to quantum encryption in the same city, but not between remote areas. The use of the satellite could be considered usage globally “, summarizes Alexander Ling, professor at Centre quantum technologies of the University of Singapore .
Chinese President Xi Jinping had regretted in May the “weakness” of his country, “always under the control of other in terms of core technologies in key sectors” . He detailed the goals set by the State: itself as “one of the most innovative country in 2020” and now a major technological power in 2049, for the centennial of the founding of the People’s Republic.

The Stopru, 2016-08-17, Source: http://stopru.org/encrypted-communications-china-launches-a-satellite-quantum/1332