IBM and stc group announced on December 3, 2025, an expanded collaboration to prepare Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications sector for the post-quantum era. According to the IBM announcement, stc group used IBM’s quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions to analyze and fortify its data protection and encryption protocols against future quantum threats.
The collaboration produced a quantum-safe framework integrating advanced cryptographic tools, quantum-safe protocols, and governance measures aligned with standards from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The framework embeds security by design and builds cryptographic agility across stc’s networks and subscriber services.
Abdulaziz A. Alaqil, CSDM Excellence and Engineering General Manager at stc group, said the collaboration focused on “future-proofing our digital ecosystem and the clients we serve.” Khaled AlOfaysan, IBM Consulting Country Head for Saudi Arabia, noted that the companies’ work together traced back several years and had now expanded to advance quantum-safe readiness for the Saudi telecommunications sector.