China – Acing Quantum Advancements
China has gone on to assert its leadership when it comes to quantum research by way of unveiling its most advanced quantum computer, which is known as Tianyan–504. Set up in December 2024, the system goes on to feature a 504 Cupid superconducting chip. It is called Zong, which has been developed by way of a partnership between China Telecom Quantum Group—CTOG, QuantumCTec Co. Limited, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences—CAS.
It is well to be noted that Tianyan-504 is required in order to meet the 6G ambitions of Asia, as it helps the region with quantum artificial intelligence synergy as far as intelligent network management is concerned and thereby elevates cybersecurity by way of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) as well as quantum key distribution (QKD).
It also helps with high-dimensional optimization when it comes to efficient terahertz spectrum by way of using spectrum as well as beamforming.
Through integrating national quantum platforms, it goes on to lay a path for the future quantum internet. At the same time, it also reinforces the leadership of Asia when it comes to the next generation, research and development, and also the rollout of 6G ambitions of Asia.
Besides this, China Telecom, along with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has also joined forces in order to come up with an artificial intelligence innovation laboratory, the Quantum Innovation Joint Laboratory, as well as a joint talent development program. This kind of partnership looks forward to speeding up the innovation in order to secure communications along with data processing, both of which happen to be really essential foundations as far as the future 6G networks are concerned.
The President of HKUST, Professor Nancy Ip, stressed the importance of this academic industry partnership and that this alliance is going to indeed address the major national scientific issues, drive the industrial technology innovation, establish a robust talent development framework, and also speed up the transformation when it comes to technological advancements.
The joint laboratories are going to serve as the hubs when it comes to long-term innovation in terms of quantum information science as well as AI, which are the two domains that are indeed vital in order to have a secure, intelligent infrastructure for the 6G future.
The chairman and CEO of China Telecom, Ke Ruiwen, went on to add that the collaboration is going to speed up the rise as far as the new productive forces are concerned, which will support both national digital goals as well as regional development.
Apart from the research perspective, the partnership also focuses on scaling knowledge by way of workforce development. The joint talent development program happens to be designed in such a way so that it educates the next generation of scientists as well as engineers who are going to drive national priorities when it comes to digital innovation.
Singapore is building a quantum-safe nation
Singtel in 2023 was appointed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to develop the first national quantum-safe network plus (NQSN+) in Singapore, which happens to be a major initiative with an objective of fortifying the resilience of Singapore against quantum threats in the coming decade, said Singtel.
It is well to be noted that NQSN+ goes on to represent a very forward-thinking strategy that blends quantum-safe technologies with national communications infrastructure. The network goes on to support an array of networks as well as security devices when it comes to enterprises that are keen to sync their operations along with what is regarded as the next milestone when it comes to computing. Significantly, the NQSN+ also goes to the extent of quantum-safe protection to new use cases, along with applications like mobility, identity, and authentication services, thereby reflecting a very future-facing design.
The chief executive of Syntel Singapore, Ng Tian Chong, said that although quantum computing may be at a very nascent stage, it is indeed rapidly gaining velocity throughout critical information sectors, specifically within healthcare and banking, as well as government services, and they want to ensure that Singapore is indeed up for it.
Moreover, quantum networks such as NQSN+ of Singapore are necessary when it comes to 6G-based technologies, as they go ahead and secure fast machine-to-machine interactions, help in supporting global interoperability capability within partner nations, and also prepare enterprises in order to function in a safe way in a quantum-driven future.
Besides this, by way of IMDA, Singapore is also co-leading its endeavors with Japan in order to develop a robust framework as far as QKD protocols are concerned under the aegis of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This kind of initiative comes out of the ITU-T focus group when it comes to quantum information technology for networks, which has gone on to produce numerous key deliverables. Of which one of the most significant happens to be the technical report on QKD network protocols—D2.3, which goes on to identify prominent standardization gaps within QKD protocol development.
The report also recommends going ahead and launching a protocol framework standardization effort that is dedicated within an ITU-TÂ study group. It is a move that Singapore as well as Japan is now driving forward.
It is well to be noted that complimenting these efforts, the ITU-T study group 13—SG13 has also gone on to establish certain necessary recommendations like Y.3800, which happens to offer totality of network supporting QKDNs, as well as Y.3802, which goes on to define the functional architecture.
All these go ahead and form the foundation when it comes to emerging quantum key distribution networks—protocol framework that has been initiated in SG11. Although the SG11 does not go ahead and cover the specifics in terms of QKD protocol interoperability, it is going to define the necessary operational elements in terms of QKD modules in the quantum layer, thereby including security operations along with protocol architecture.
South Korea—base for 6G security framework
What can be called a pathbreaking partnership, SK Telecom—SKT, has rolled out 5G PQC SIM cards on its 5G standalone network environment in order to encrypt as well as decrypt subscriber identities in a way that goes on to resist any kind of attacks coming from certain powerful future quantum computers. This kind of innovation upgrades the cryptographic algorithms that are used in order to anonymize digital identities, thereby providing certain security mechanisms that are designed in order to withstand both quantum computing threats and the classical ones.
Apparently, SK Telecom has stressed the crucial requirement for such advancements, given that there is a looming risk when it comes to record now, decrypt later attacks. The partnership goes on to leverage the CRYSTALS-Kyber algorithm, which is one of the post-quantum secure cryptographic benchmarks championed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology—NIST—in order to safeguard certain user privacy over the telecom networks.
This kind of pioneering demonstration as far as 5G standalone infrastructure is a very critical stepping stone when it comes to the development of 6G 6G ambitions of Asia, in which security demands are going to rise in addition to the unprecedented data volumes as well as ultra-low latency requirements that come in.
The strategic investment in quantum and photonics by India
The commitment of India in order to advance quantum technologies is strongly embedded in its national quantum mission—NQM, which is very ambitious and also approved by the union cabinet in 2023. It has a substantial budget allocation of almost $730 million and spreads to a timeframe between 2023 and 2031. The mission objective happens to be the creation, in terms of intermediate scale, of quantum computers that range from 50 to 1000 physical qubits in a matter of eight years by leveraging multiple platforms like photonic technologies as well as superconducting.
It is well to be noted that the quantum computational capacity is all set to drive certain breakthroughs when it comes to processing power as well as algorithmic effectivity by directly affecting the future six systems, which are going to depend heavily as far as ultrafast data processing and artificial intelligence are concerned. Moreover, the mission also goes on to support the quantum sensing development along with metrology tools like ultra-sensitive magnetic meters as well as atomic clocks. These technologies can prominently elevate 60 applications that are related to precision timing, communication, synchronization, and navigation, all of which are indeed very necessary when it comes to ultra-latency.
Central to these endeavors happens to be the establishment, when it comes to the center for programmable photonic integrated circuits and systems—CPPICS is concerned, which is a center of excellence—COE dedicated to advancing silicon photonics research that is aimed when it comes to developing cutting-edge and quantum photonics applications.
Moreover, the development when it comes to quantum processors as well as photonic qubits helps with next-generation computing infrastructure, which can go ahead and handle certain extensive data evaluation as well as machine learning parameters that 6G networks will depend on when it comes to dynamic network management and optimization.
The innovation within 6G antenna technology—Hong Kong
The City University of Hong Kong (cityUHK) has gone on to redefine the next generation of wireless communications by way of unleashing a 6G-ready meta-surface antenna in December last year. Spearheaded by the chair professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering and director of the state laboratory When it comes to terahertz and millimeter waves, Professor Chan Chi-hou, this innovation indeed represents a crucial milestone when it comes to internet design and also a major enabler in terms of the realization of full potential when it comes to 6G.
The proposed synthesis, according to him, is an approach that promotes the metasurfaces’ spectral controllability to a fresh level.
Apparently, Professor Wu Gengbu, who is also from cityUHK and a member of SKLTMW, went on to add that the metasurface antenna’s simplicity when it comes to coding, resistance to sidebands, and potential for on-chip integration goes beyond the present technologies.
It is well to be noted that one of the key features when it comes to this design is its capacity to transport multiple signals simultaneously across users in different directions, thereby effectively raising the channel capacity and also elevating spectral efficiency, which are the two pillars as far as 6G infrastructure is concerned. The software-defined frequency control of the antenna helps with dynamic spectral allocation, which is very essential when it comes to integrating quantum-based systems, which depend heavily on accurate and secure signal transmission.
Besides this, the capacity to manage many frequency harmonics as well as their propagation traits syncs along with the objective of the integrated sensing and communication paradigm of 6G. This kind of integration enables the network to perceive the environment by enhancing functions, such as environmental mapping, localization, and also real-time imaging, all of which can get enhanced by way of quantum sensing technologies.
Significantly, the metasurface capacity of the antenna when it comes to the on-chip integration happens to promote scalability in which AI processors, photonic chips, and quantum components may as well coexist when it comes to a single platform. This enables a more compact, multifunctional network node that is also energy efficient and ideal for dense urban environments, along with edge computing scenarios within the 6G networks.
The quantum funding growth—an outlook that is positiveÂ
The quantum technology sector happens to be experiencing a remarkable surge, with private investment within quantum computing going beyond $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025 itself, thereby representing a whopping 125% year-over-year growth, as per the Quantum Insider’s Quarter 1 2025 report. In spite of a decrease when it comes to the number of deals, the average deal size has risen quite significantly, thereby pushing the overall funding, which is 28% higher as compared to the previous quarter. This kind of trend goes on to suggest a consolidation within capital around firms having higher commercial potential as well as readiness for the market.
The Quantum Technologies 2025 report by the Yole Group also complements these investment figures and forecasts a consistent expansion throughout the major areas like quantum as a service (QAAS), communication, software, and sensing all through 2035. The report also goes on to point to transition when it comes to focus towards scalable hardware, post-quantum, cybersecurity, and software orchestration, thereby highlighting the transition of the sector from experimental research to practical rollout. The rising funding as well as strategic stress happens to reflect the growing confidence in commercial viability as well as long-term effects when it comes to quantum technologies.