Budapest, April 22, 2025 – A unique demonstration carried out through a collaboration between researchers and industry partners marked a first of its kind in Hungary and represents an important milestone in cybersecurity development.
As part of the collaboration, experts from AdvaNet Magyarország Kft, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Magyar Telekom Nyrt., and Netvisor Zrt. have built Hungary’s first multi-node quantum key distribution (QKD) test network with integrated key management.
The rapid advancement of quantum computing challenges the long-term security of current encryption systems at a fundamental level. Therefore, it is crucial to prepare in time. QKD is currently one of the most promising solutions to this challenge, as it offers physically guaranteed security in transmitting encryption keys.
Creating the country’s first multi-node QKD network is not only a technological milestone but also a significant step toward future-proof cybersecurity systems. This collaboration brought together industry players, academic institutions, and technological partners from diverse fields, establishing a shared foundation of knowledge. It also demonstrated that while the development of the encryption networks of the future will still require extensive research, development, and testing, Hungarian professionals are at the forefront of this effort.
On April 22, the participating organizations presented the background of this successful national demonstration at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at BME. As Dr. Sándor Imre, Dean of the Faculty, stated:
“Over the past years, Hungary has seen numerous achievements in the field of quantum communication, and more and more experiments are being conducted. This latest development marks a major step forward, as Hungary has now implemented its first multi-node quantum-based encryption network using commercially available devices. Since 2025 is the International Year of Quantum Research and Technology, we are especially proud to have completed this experiment in this important year.”