Russia to invest $69 million in quantum communication network

On Dec. 17, the Russian government said it will allocate 4.5 billion rubles ($69.4 million) to Russian state-owned railroads in 2023 and 2024 to expand its quantum communications network.

As part of its digital economy framework, the government plans to invest a total of 9.4 billion rubles ($144.9 million) on Russian Railways from 2021 to 2024 to develop a quantum communications network, and 2.7 billion rubles ($41.6 million) in 2023 and 1.8 billion rubles ($27.7 million) in 2024, according to Russia's quantum communications roadmap approved in late 2021 million).

The roadmap includes more than 120 projects, such as the promotion of tools for potential users of quantum communications, the development of sales markets, and the commercialization of quantum communications services and products.

The first pilot quantum communication line between Moscow and St. Petersburg, based on its existing fiber optic network, will be 700 km long in 2021 and is expected to increase to 7,000 km by 2024.