A quantum communication test bed will be established in Quebec. Estimates suggest that the opportunities provided by this technology could lead to enhanced security for computer communications in the future.

The project, which will be named Kirk in honor of Captain James T. Kirk, a character from the Star Trek series, will be deployed in the cities of Montreal, Sherbrooke, and Quebec. Companies will be able to conduct tests on the network managed by the non-profit organization Numana.

This organization also receives financial support for the project from the federal government and provincial governments.

Its president, François Bourelly, cited as an example the benefits that financial institutions can gain from conducting communication security tests. We approach banks, start talking to them, and say: "It's time to start securing this."

Martin Laforest, the quantum strategy manager at the ACET incubator, who advised Numana on its project, explained that advancements in quantum communications could help develop a more secure way to transmit information according to the laws of quantum physics.

Laforest explained that theoretically, the law of physics means that if someone attempts to intercept a quantum communication, it would cause disturbances that can be perceived.

Therefore, it would be possible to verify whether the communication channel is secure before transmitting information. He noted that fundamentally, you cannot measure or observe quantum behavior without changing it.

For this reason, quantum communications will provide a greater level of confidentiality than the encryption techniques currently used. Moreover, the development of quantum computing will inevitably create a gap in the protection of encrypted communications, solving the complex mathematical formulations that safeguard information.

Laforest clarified that once sufficiently large quantum computers are built, our current security measures will become outdated. He added that alternatives are needed.

Assistance of over 10 million dollars...

On October 23, both the governments of Canada and Quebec announced that they will provide support of 3.6 million dollars and 6.5 million dollars respectively for this 13 million dollar project.

Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon confirmed that Quebec views quantum computing as a promising sector for the economy. He cited the recent launch of IBM's quantum computer in Bromont, a town in Quebec.

Federal Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Théria Martinez Verada, also stated that the quantum computing sector could allow for the creation of approximately 229,000 jobs in Canada from now until 2040, 45,000 of which would be in Quebec.

South Korea and China already have commercial quantum communication networks. Bourelly stated that Canada will not be left behind, but the time to act is now.

Currently, there are no places in North America where commercial networks are being established, so they are likely to be available. All it takes is finding the right business models. François Bourelly, CEO of Numana, mentioned that the testing also works to inform users, such as banks, who can utilize these technologies.