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Article: China Telecom launches quantum encrypted phone calls on smartphones in a new pilot programme

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China Telecom has launched a pilot program in Anhui province offering quantum encrypted phone calls. Users must obtain a special SIM card and install a dedicated Android app to access the service, which uses the laws of quantum physics to secure communications.

This technology differs from traditional encryption, as any interception attempt physically alters the message, alerting the parties involved. The pilot represents a step in the broader development of quantum technology, which promises more secure cryptography but also threatens to break existing encryption methods.

Main topics: Quantum encryption technology, China Telecom's pilot program, and the mechanics and security advantages of quantum cryptography.

Original URL

https://www.scmp.com/tech/innovation/article/3116659/china-telecom-launches-quantum-encrypted-phone-calls-smartphones?utm_source=rss_feed

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Innovation - South China Morning Post

Published Date

2021-01-07 01:13

Fetched Date

2026-03-04 14:33

Processed Date

2026-03-04 15:08

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China Telecom launches quantum encrypted phone calls on smartphones in a new pilot programme
- With a special SIM card and app, some China Telecom smartphone users in Anhui province can make phone calls protected by quantum encryption
- The race to develop quantum technology could both threaten traditional encryption and lead to new, more secure forms of cryptography
Some users of China Telecom, one of the country’s three state-owned telecoms companies, can now make quantum encrypted phone calls using a special SIM card and smartphone app, the company announced last week.
The service was launched as a pilot programme in Anhui province, where China Telecom said it is recruiting “friendly experience customers”. To get the new feature, users must visit a bricks-and-mortar China Telecom shop to swap out the SIM card. It also requires the company’s “quantum secure call” app, which is currently only available for Android, according to a statement from China Telecom last Friday. The company did not disclose pricing for the new feature.
Unlike traditional encryption methods that rely solely on algorithms, quantum encryption is protected by laws of quantum physics. In theory, all information scrambled by traditional encryption algorithms can be cracked by a computer given enough time. Quantum cryptography is different because any attempt to intercept data will cause a physical change in the message, alerting the sender and receiver to potential eavesdropping.
For users of the new China Telecom service, starting a quantum phone call will generate two secret keys using quantum information technology. These are used to verify the caller’s identity and the call’s information, ensuring end-to-end encryption.