By the end of this year, the first system will be tested, which promises to revolutionize the way public institutions exchange sensitive and protected information.

Quantum technology applied to communications represents one of the highest levels of digital security in the world. Unlike traditional encryption systems, which are based on mathematical algorithms, the quantum network uses the laws of quantum physics to protect communications. If an attacker tries to access a message, the system immediately detects the interference and generates a new encryption key, making eavesdropping virtually impossible.

The Portuguese project, called PTQCI (National Quantum Communications Infrastructure), aims to create a sovereign and secure network for State communications. In a first phase, the infrastructure will connect four sovereign bodies, through a star network that uses quantum nodes and cipher machines developed in Portugal. This first connection is expected to be inaugurated later this year, in a symbolic milestone of the country's technological transition to the quantum era.

The initiative is part of a broader European Commission program that aims to build a European quantum network, capable of uniting member states through secure optical connections. Portugal and Spain are already preparing a joint application to create the first Iberian corridor for quantum communications, with a direct connection to the European grid. To this end, an optical terminal will be built in Alentejo, which will bridge the gap between the national fiber network and communication satellites, and this infrastructure is expected to be completed by 2030.

In addition to Indra Deimos and IP Telecom, the consortium involves leading companies and research centers, such as Altice Labs, the Telecommunications Institute, Inesc-ID, the Instituto Superior Técnico, Adyta, Warpcom and other institutions that contribute to the integration and security of the system. The total investment is around six million euros, financed in part by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and the European Defense Fund.

More than a technological advance, this project represents a strategic leap in the country's digital sovereignty. Portugal no longer depends on external solutions and now has its own technology, developed and industrialized in the national territory, with potential for export and use both civil and military.

With this step, Portugal asserts itself as a European reference around quantum security, positioning itself at the forefront of a sector that will be decisive for data protection, cybersecurity and technological autonomy in Europe.

Disclaimer: Article created with the assistance of AI.