GSMA Announces a Post-Quantum Telco Network Taskforce with IBM and Vodafone as Initial Members

GSMA is a worldwide industry trade group with about 1200 members of mobile cellular network operators. As one might expect, the topic of quantum safe communication is becoming a topic of concern for them with approximately 100 Zettabytes (or 1023 bytes) of information transmitted each year and revenue in the neighborhood of $2 trillion worldwide. Data security is a priority for them so any failures that would result from a quantum computer breaking the encryption would be very serious matter. In order to mitigate the potential risks of quantum computing they have created a news Post-Quantum Telco Network Taskforce to define requirements, identify dependencies and create the roadmap to implement quantum-safe networking. IBM and Vodafone will be the initial members of this taskforce with other members of GSMA invited to join. In addition, providers of quantum safe cybersecurity products who are not members of GSMA will have opportunities to get involved with this task force to help the task force identify the best technologies that can help them achieve a quantum safe goal. More information about this news post-quantum telco network taskforce is available in a news release posted on the IBM website here as well as a blog post provided by IBM located here.

September 29, 2022