On March 23, 2021, ITU co-organized the Joint Symposium on Standards for Quantum Technologies together with IEC and IEEE’s UK and Ireland Photonics Chapter. The virtual event, open to all and free of charge, convened experts in quantum information technology and standardization to discuss coordination for harmonized standards development.
According to ITU’s announcement, the symposium covered three key dimensions of quantum technologies: quantum communication, quantum computation, and quantum measurement. Presentations were followed by a panel discussion among representatives of standards bodies including ITU, ISO, IEC, NIST, ETSI, and CEN-CENELEC, which aimed to establish views on the appropriate shape of a standardization roadmap for quantum information technologies.
At the time, multiple standards bodies were developing guidance on quantum information technologies. ITU-T’s standardization work addressed network and security aspects with an initial focus on QKD, led by Study Group 13 and Study Group 17. ETSI was working on quantum-safe cryptography and QKD. ISO/IEC JTC 1 was developing QKD testing and evaluation standards, and the IRTF Quantum Internet Research Group was studying quantum internet realization. The symposium sought to identify areas most in need of standards and discuss appropriate timelines for development.