Images have been securely transmitted by artificial satellite using Quantum Key Distribution ( QKD ) between priming stations in China and South Africa , a record - break distance of 12,900 kilometers ( 8,000 miles ) . More significant than the distance is the drastic decrease in weight , and therefore ultimately of toll , in the transmission and reception technology .

The outlandishness of quantum shop mechanic can be harness to leave the secure transmission of datum , at least in possibility . Doing it at scale and overlarge distanceshas prove much slower than boosters anticipated . Nevertheless , progress has been made , marked now by the firstquantum satellitecommunication connectedness to let in the Southern Hemisphere . However , the favorable consideration required suggest it may be some way off being universally useable .

A presentment of artificial satellite quantum encoding was performed using stations at Stellenbosch University , South Africa , and the University of Science and Technology of China . In between was the microsatellite Jinan-1 , specifically design to allow quantum encoding of information between places not connected by cables .

In the space of one pass by Jinan-1 overhead , 1.07 million bits were firmly communicate . However , the investigator acknowledge the speed of this was made possible by the climatical conditions at Stellenbosch , which has very slight swarm or humidity during the southerly winter . Cloud ( the rain - bear sort , not where data point is lay in ) forces a replacement to auxiliary systems that will be slower .

QKD relies on the capability of single photon to encode and transmit headstone , which can be used to decipher the meat of a message . A key feature of quantum mechanics is that wiretap , or even measuring , a single photonchanges it , thus interfering with its employment as a key . The intended recipient role substance would be alerted to any attempt at bugging .

China has make 2,000 kilometers ( 1,200 miles ) of fibre for the transmission of quantum - encrypted signal between 32 locations in major metropolis . Such tie could be made intercontinental , just as most ordinary Internet communicating crosses ocean by cables , not satellites . However , that ’s a mess of infrastructure to establish for something that may only be used in limited case .

China ’s first quantum satellite , Miciusdemonstrated the potential of using place instead by conduct signalsbetween China and Austria , but Jinan-1 reveals the engineering has advanced further . Among other things , Jinan-1 is more than 10 times lighter than Micius , while at 100 kilograms ( 220 pound ) the earth station were closer to a hundred clock time light . The squad demonstrated the possible implications of this for portability , move the Formosan ground station to dissimilar position within several city , and then into the mountains of Nanshan .

The keys were channel using pulses from a near - infrared laser .

Stellenbosch is install its own Center for Quantum Science and Technology , and squad drawing card there , Dr Yaseera Ismail , said in astatement : “ International and national collaborations are essential to ride cutting - bound research and push scientific boundary . ”

The report is published inNature .