Page 120 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Wind Hellas Demos 5G in Thessaloniki

Greek telco Wind Hellas has switched will be offered for free. Greece is currently (MNOs), Cosmote, Vodafone and Wind.
on a trial 5G mobile network at the home to three mobile network operators
Thessaloniki International Fair. The firm is
giving attendees the chance to experience
5G technology using Huawei Mate 20X
handsets, though commercial services
are not expected to be implemented until
next year at the earliest. In October 2018
Wind also signed an agreement with local
authorities in the city of Kalamata on the
Peloponnese peninsula to install a pilot
5G network. Greece’s telecoms regulator,
the Hellenic Telecommunications &
Post Commission (Ethniki Epitropi
Tilepikoinonion kai Tachydromeion, EETT),
is planning a sale to allocate 5G-capable
spectrum, including 2×30MHz in the
700MHz band, 65MHz in the 1500MHz
range, 2×15 plus 2×45MHz in the 2100MHz
band, 280MHz at 3.6GHz and 2,500MHz
in the 24GHz-28GHz range. While some
frequencies will be sold via auction, others

Operators Join European Quantum Communication Infrastructure Pilot

create and test communication network of OPENQKD, said, “After successfully
infrastructure with a built-in quantum demonstrating the basic concept of
element, using Quantum Key Distribution QKD, quantum-based cryptography has
(QKD) – an ultra-secure form of encryption achieved a mature state and we are proud
that allows data to be transmitted with a to lift quantum technology now onto a
very high level of security. The project aims market-ready level – ready to be deployed
to lay the groundwork for a pan-European in everyday-life applications.” The Europe
quantum communication infrastructure Commission agreed to fund OPENQKD
that uses satellite as well as ground- following a Horizon 2020 call for proposals
based solutions. The testbed will test the in 2018. OPENQKD’s activities will take
interoperability of equipment supplied place throughout Europe, in Austria,
by different quantum manufacturers. Spain, Poland, Germany, Netherlands,
The OPENQKD consortium consists of Switzerland, France, Italy, UK, Greece and
38 partners from 13 member states and the Czech Republic. OPENQKD will also
Horizon 2020 associated states, including work to identify new quantum use-cases
quantum equipment manufacturers, by supporting start-ups and SMEs, as
network operators (such as BT, Orange, well as offering modern test facilities. A
The European Commission has launched a Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica), further objective for the project is to devise
pilot project to test quantum communication system integrators, SMEs, universities, standards and security certifications for
infrastructure in several European certification and standardization bodies, this infrastructure. Initially, the OPENQKD
countries. The OPENQKD initiative aims to and end-users. project will have a budget of €15 million
boost the security of critical applications Quantum moves towards the market over three years.
in telecommunications, healthcare, Hannes Hübel, a scientist at the AIT Austrian
utilities and government services. It will Institute of Technology, and project leader

120 SEPTEMBER 2019