Sophia Antipolis, France, 11 July 2025

Standardisation is indispensable for ensuring the seamless integration of quantum technologies into existing and future infrastructures. The European Commission highlighted the strategic importance of standardisation in the Quantum Europe Strategy published on 2 July, acknowledging ETSI’s contributions on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The strategy states that “A comprehensive QKD testing and evaluation facility is also being deployed […]. This facility enables rigorous characterisation, security testing, and early support for standardisation, closely aligned with the activities of ETSI Quantum Key Distribution”.

In an exclusive thought leadership article for Infosecurity, Jaime Gómez García, Global Head of Quantum Threat Program at Banco Santander, states: “Organizations such as ETSI are shaping the technical foundations and policy frameworks needed to support a quantum secure future”.

With over 30 standards already published by two technical groups focused on quantum, a global membership spanning five continents, and a proven track record in cybersecurity standards, ETSI is well positioned to lead European-driven international collaborations with like-minded partners and to strengthen Europe’s role in global standardisation.

ETSI’s quantum-related groups include the CYBER Quantum Safe Cryptography Working Group (QSC WG) and the Industry Specification Group on Quantum Key Distribution (ISG QKD).

The Quantum Safe Cryptography group focuses on ensuring digital resilience against future quantum threats. Recent work includes a Report on a migration strategy targeting ITS and Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) use cases (ETSI TR 103 949) as well as new standards for hybrid key exchanges (ETSI TS 104 015) to enhance security mechanisms - ensuring that only authorized users with the correct permissions can access and decrypt sensitive data.

The Quantum Key Distribution ISG develops common interfaces and specifications for the quantum communications industry to stimulate markets for components, systems, and applications. QKD enables secure key exchange using quantum states, with security based on quantum principles rather than algorithms - prompting the need for industrial standards amid rapid global deployment. In 2023, the ISG launched the First Protection Profile (PP) for the security evaluation of QKD modules (ETSI GS QKD 016), anticipating the need for quantum safe cryptography. The group is currently developing a Protection Profile for Key Processing Modules.

Through its robust European and international membership, and an extensive network of over 100 partnerships with industry, standards bodies, and regulatory organisations worldwide, ETSI ensures global alignment while driving innovation and delivering digital standards that meet evolving market needs.

By leveraging the strengths of EuroQCI and fostering global collaboration, Europe can establish a resilient, interoperable, and secure quantum ecosystem - and ETSI will be a strong and reliable actor to achieve this goal.

About ETSI

ETSI is one of only three bodies officially recognised by the European Union as a European Standards Organisation (ESO). It is an independent, not-for-profit body dedicated to ICT standardisation. With over 900 member organisations from more than 60 countries across five continents, ETSI offers an open and inclusive environment for members representing large and small private companies, research institutions, academia, governments, and public organisations. ETSI supports the timely development, ratification, and testing of globally applicable standards for ICT‑enabled systems, applications, and services across all sectors of industry and society.

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Email: Press@etsi.org