After three months of in-orbit testing, the satellite is designed to start hack-proof” quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground. Quantum communication is ultra-secure as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor duplicated. Accordingly, it is impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack information it transmits. If the new satellite operates well, China will follow up with projects Micius-2 and Micius-3. By the end of the year, China will complete and put into operation the world’s first secure quantum communication network, the Beijing-Shanghai network. The 2,000 km network will be used for secure data transmission in the fields of the military, finance and government affairs. So far, several banks in China have been the first users of quantum encryption. However, scientist say that it will take another a decade or more for quantum communication to reach individuals.”
CAS news release, August 16, 2016