Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Hispasat, Redeia’s satellite services operator, have announced the start of the development, manufacturing, verification, and validation phase of the QKD-GEO prototype, Spain’s quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. With a budget of 103.5 million euros, the QKD-GEO mission is a project initiated by the Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PERTE Aeroespacial), for which contracting is managed by CDTI.

ESA, together with a Starion-led industrial consortium, has marked a significant milestone in quantum communications technology with the successful implementation of a terrestrial quantum key distribution (QKD) link. The link took place between its European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC) in Belgium and a data centre in Luxembourg. The development comes as part of the International Use Cases for Operational QKD Applications and Services (INT-UQKD) project, which exemplifies ESA's commitment to bridging the gap between advanced space technology and practical business applications.

IonQ, a leader in the quantum computing and networking industries, announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Intellian Technologies, Inc., a leading global provider of satellite communication antennas and ground gateway solutions, to explore how secure quantum networking can transform satellite communications. This memorandum furthers IonQ’s work in strategically partnering across South Korea’s enterprise, government, and academic sectors and launching initiatives seeking to advance their quantum economy.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected AROBS Polska for the Post-Quantum Cryptography Algorithms for Satellite Telecommunication Applications (PQC ASTrAL) project. AROBS Polska will develop and implement, under ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Space Systems for Safety & Security programme, an innovative cryptographic system for satellite communications.

AROBS Polska, part of the AROBS Group, an entrepreneurial technology company listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and implement the Post-Quantum Cryptography Algorithms for Satellite Telecommunication Applications (PQC ASTrAL) project. This project carried out under the ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) program within ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate, aims to develop a cryptographic key management system for satellites based on post-quantum algorithms, ensuring the protection of communications against emerging threats posed by quantum computers.

Accenture has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in QuSecure™ a leader in post-quantum cybersecurity. Together, Accenture and QuSecure offer comprehensive post-quantum crypto agility solutions to help government agencies and private sector businesses mitigate emerging quantum risks.

WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”), a leading global cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT company, today announces the groundbreaking integration of its SEALCOIN with the WISeSAT satellite platform. This innovative development allows secure, decentralized cryptocurrency transactions to be processed via low-orbit satellites, marking a significant leap in global financial inclusion and blockchain infrastructure. Of note, both entities are subsidiaries of WISeKey: SEALCOIN AG focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform, while WISeSat AG focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications.

SEALSQ Corp ("SEALSQ" or "Company"), a company that focuses on developing and selling Semiconductors, PKI and Post-Quantum technology hardware and software products, today announced the integration of its latest post-quantum cryptographic chips on WISeSat satellites. This milestone development underscores SEALSQ’s commitment to securing satellite communications in an era of emerging quantum computing threats.

WISeKey International Holding Ltd. (“WISeKey” or the “Company”), a global leader in cybersecurity, AI, and Internet of Things (IoT) operating as a holding company, today announces the confirmation of its subsidiary WISeSat.Space’s (“WISeSat”) upcoming satellite launch in partnership with SpaceX. The launch is scheduled for January 14, 2025, from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

To maintain and expand the United States’ leadership in the global race for quantum technology, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), member of the Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, which would authorize $2.7 billion in federal funding to accelerate quantum research and development at federal science agencies for the next five years.