Secure Communication based on Quantum Cryptography (SECOQC) is a project that aims to develop quantum cryptography (see there for further details). The European Union decided in 2004 to invest 11 million EUR in the project as a way of circumventing espionage attempts by ECHELON. Christian Monyk, the coordinator of SECOQC, said people and organizations in Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland would participate in the project.
On October 8, 2008 SECOQC was launched in Vienna.[1][2]
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Quantum cryptography, usually known as Quantum Key Distribution(QKD) provides powerful security. But it has some limitations. Following no-cloning theorem , QKD only can provide 1:1 connection. So the number of links will increase N(N-1)/2 as N represents the number of nodes. If a node wants to participate into the QKD network, it will cause some issues like constructing quantum communication line. To overcome this issues, SECOQC was started.
SECOQC network architecture can by divided by two parts. Trusted private network and quantum network consisted with QBBs(Quantum Back Bone). Private network is conventional network with end-nodes and a QBB. QBB provides quantum channel communication between QBBs. QBB is consisted with a number of QKD devices that are connected with other QKD devices in 1-to-1 connection.
From this, SECOQC can provide easier registration of new end-node in QKD network, and quick recovery from threatenings on quantum channel links.