South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Tuesday it will launch a tender for an "open quantum testbed advancement and expansion project" to strengthen next-generation communications infrastructure in the AI and quantum era.

The open quantum testbed is a key demonstration infrastructure to promote the commercialisation and industrial adoption of quantum cryptographic communications technology. Since last year, the ministry has been building and operating a quantum cryptographic communications network and measurement equipment for issuing test reports on the Seoul-Pangyo-Daejeon route.

The tender follows up on the "First comprehensive plan to foster quantum science and technology and the quantum industry" announced in January. The goal is to expand the quantum testbed nationwide and build quantum infrastructure that also covers overseas connections and securing next-generation technologies.

Eligible applicants are consortia including key telecommunications service providers. The support period runs for 3 years from this year through 2028. The ministry will begin with a prior notice on Tuesday, then proceed with a main notice and selection evaluation, and start full-scale project work from July. The tender is divided into 3 sections: commercial hub, overseas hub and future hub.

The commercial hub will demonstrate quantum cryptographic communications services in an actual telecom network environment and focus on verifying commercialisation using low-cost, small quantum key distribution equipment. The overseas hub will build an international segment linked to overseas quantum testbeds to verify interoperability of quantum communications technology between countries and lay the foundation for global technology cooperation. The future hub will build a demonstration environment for next-generation quantum communications technologies such as satellite and wireless QKD and quantum entanglement communications to establish a foundation for securing future core technologies.

Kim Sung-soo (김성수), director general for R&D Policy at the ministry, said, "This tender will serve as an opportunity to advance the demonstration base for quantum cryptographic communications and expand its use across various industries."