China Telecom Launches Quantum-Secure Cryptography System, Completes 1,000-Kilometer Encrypted Call

China Telecom Quantum Group, a Chinese state-owned company, has launched what it claims is the world’s first commercial distributed cryptography system that integrates quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to protect against quantum computer attacks. The system successfully enabled the world's first cross-regional quantum-encrypted phone call over a distance exceeding 1,000 kilometers between Beijing and Hefei, showcasing its practical application in secure communications. This hybrid approach forms an end-to-end quantum-secure architecture designed for real-time communication, data protection, and trusted identity authentication, addressing the growing risks posed by advancing quantum computing technology. The company is rolling out this system across multiple cities, establishing a nationwide backbone for quantum-secure communication. Experts at China Telecom emphasize the urgency of deploying quantum-resistant cybersecurity infrastructure as traditional public-key encryption faces increasing threats. Meanwhile, Microsoft is also advancing quantum-safe encryption by integrating post-quantum cryptography algorithms into Windows and OpenSSL, aiming to mitigate future quantum decryption threats before quantum computers become widespread.