CEQCI-Implement QCI network in Central Europe

Building a Central European Quantum-Secure Communication Network

The CEQCI project is establishing the first quantum key distribution (QKD) network across Central Europe, linking the capitals of Austria (Vienna), Hungary (Budapest), Romania (Bucharest), and Slovakia (Bratislava), together with the Austrian cities of Innsbruck and Graz. With additional intermediate nodes in Győr and Szeged (Hungary) and Arad, Deva, and Craiova (Romania), the network will span 11 locations and enable communication secured by the laws of quantum physics rather than mathematical assumptions, offering protection that remains robust even against future quantum computers. A central pillar of the project is the optical ground station in Innsbruck, which will provide Austria's connection to the space segment of the network. From its location in the Alps, the Innsbruck station will establish quantum links to the European Eagle-1 quantum satellite, exchanging cryptographic keys between space and ground at the single-photon level. Together with a sister station in Budapest, it forms the bridge between the terrestrial fibre network and the satellite, enabling secure communication across distances that would otherwise be impossible to cover with ground-based links alone. While both ground stations originate from earlier projects, CEQCI equips them with the dedicated hardware and software needed for quantum operation. The terrestrial network will be orchestrated through Software-Defined Networking (SDN), allowing f lexible and efficient management of cryptographic key demands across the participating nodes. Because applying SDN techniques to QKD is still an emerging field, a substantial part of the project is devoted to developing this software stack. In Budapest, the satellite link will be directly integrated with the fibre network, demonstrating the seamless combination of space and ground segments. To showcase the network in action, CEQCI will use it to transfer sensitive, classified data between two biology laboratories in Graz and Budapest, providing a real-world test case for protecting confidential research data. Throughout the project, scalability, interoperability, and standardisation are addressed at every level, ensuring that CEQCI can connect smoothly to the wider pan-European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) currently taking shape.

Our partners

BUDAPESTI MUSZAKI ES GAZDASAGTUDOMANYI EGYETE Hungary

EOTVOS LORAND TUDOMANYEGYETEM HU

PRO M PROFESSZIONALIS MOBILSZOLGALTATO ZARTKORHU

HUN-REN WIGNER FIZIKAI KUTATOKOZPONT HU

Agentia de Administrare a Retelei Nationale de Informatic RO

UNIVERSITATEA NATIONALA DE STIINTASI TEHNOLOGIE P RO

NARODNE CENTRUM PRE KVANTOVE TECHNOLOGIE SK

FYZIKALNY USTAV SLOVENSKEJ AKADEMIE VIED SK

AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH AT

FRAGMENTIX STORAGE SOLUTIONS GMBH AT