Melita tests quantum-secure link on live network in Malta

Maltese telecom firm Melita has implemented a quantum-secure communications link between its two main data centres in Malta, in collaboration with Terra Quantum and Merqury Cybersecurity, marking a step towards integrating quantum security into operational telecom infrastructure.

Terra Quantum Group is a leading quantum technology company based in Germany and Switzerland while Merqury Cybersecurity is a Malta-based quantum cybersecurity company founded in 2022.

The deployment uses Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a method that enables the secure exchange of cryptographic keys using quantum technology. Unlike conventional encryption, which relies on mathematical complexity, QKD is designed to detect any interception attempts, making it relevant as advances in quantum computing threaten existing encryption standards.

The system was deployed over Melita’s existing fibre network, using Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), allowing quantum-secure key exchange to run alongside live telecom traffic without requiring new infrastructure.

The link connects Melita’s primary data centres and has processed tens of thousands of key requests without unplanned service disruptions, demonstrating operational stability in a live telecom environment.

The solution combines Terra Quantum’s QKD technology with Merqury’s key management and network control systems. Key components include a quantum random number generator for producing encryption keys and monitoring tools to detect potential intrusion attempts on the fibre link.

The deployment is positioned as a move from experimental quantum communication systems into real-world application. It also aligns with broader European efforts to establish a quantum-secure communications infrastructure aimed at protecting telecom networks, financial systems, and government data as quantum computing capabilities evolve.

Terra Quantum, Melita, and Merqury indicated that the project demonstrates the feasibility of integrating quantum security into existing telecom networks, without the need for dedicated infrastructure such as dark fibre, which has traditionally been required in similar trials.