Overview

• Scientists from Stellenbosch University and the University of Science and Technology of China successfully demonstrated the 12,900 km quantum satellite link.
• This milestone represents the first quantum satellite communication link established in the Southern Hemisphere.
• The Jinan-1 microsatellite enabled real-time Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for secure data transmission between South Africa and China.
• Stellenbosch's favorable environmental conditions allowed for a key generation rate of 1.07 million secure bits during a single satellite pass.
• The breakthrough highlights the importance of international collaboration in advancing quantum communication technology, despite challenges in scalability and environmental dependencies.