IBM, Telefónica Tech Partner on Quantum-Safe TelecommunicationsIBM, Telefónica Tech Partner on Quantum-Safe Telecommunications

IBM and Telefónica Tech have announced a strategic partnership to develop cybersecurity technologies designed to safeguard against future threats from quantum computing.

Under the agreement, the companies plan to deploy IBM's quantum-safe infrastructure at Telefónica's headquarters in Madrid to facilitate business development and promote cyber resilience.

Quantum computers are expected to become sufficiently powerful to decrypt the encryption currently used to protect critical data. Data is already at risk from criminals capturing and saving data for decryption by future “cryptographically relevant” quantum computers, a process known as harvest now, decrypt later.

“Quantum computing offers incredible opportunities, but it could also pose a significant challenge in terms of cybersecurity,” said Telefónica Tech global head of strategic partnerships Raquel Ruiz Lozano.

“This collaboration agreement with IBM allows us to continue to help address the potential risks of the post-quantum world, thanks to IBM's quantum-safe technology and to offer our clients solutions to help protect their critical data and face this transformation with security and confidence.”

IBM plans to deploy its Guardium Quantum Safe technology into Telefónica's network architecture. The process would include assessing existing vulnerabilities, deploying quantum-safe algorithms and establishing protocols to ensure long-term data security.

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The companies also intend to help organizations transition to new cryptographic standards and introduce quantum-safe encryption technologies.

IBM contributed to the selection of NIST’s post-quantum encryption algorithms by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for standardization and co-authored two of the first three algorithms NIST published.

“It is critical for organizations to begin evaluating their cryptography and planning a transition to quantum-safe standards,” said IBM technology managing director for Telefónica Adolfo Hernández Pulido.

“At IBM, we are proud not only to have had a hand in the development of new post-quantum cryptography algorithms but also to be leading the way with new quantum-safe technologies and services.”