StarHub partners IBM to build quantum-safe networks in Singapore
Source: Techgoondu
StarHub is working with IBM to develop quantum-safe networks in Singapore, warning that organisations need to migrate critical infrastructure to quantum-resistant standards before the decade ends as hackers stockpile encrypted data today for decryption by future quantum computers.
StarHub has expanded its collaboration with IBM to develop quantum-safe networks, a move aimed at protecting Singapore organisations against a threat that does not yet exist at scale but is already being prepared for by hackers.
The concern is "steal now, decrypt later" attacks. Adversaries are collecting encrypted data today on the assumption that quantum computers within the next decade will be able to crack current encryption standards. By the time those machines arrive, the stolen data could be decrypted and exploited.
StarHub chief technology officer Dr Volkan Sevindik said the migration of critical infrastructure to quantum-safe standards needs to happen before 2029. One of the hardest parts of that migration is knowing where cryptographic keys live inside sprawling IT environments and who has access to them — something many organisations cannot currently answer.
Quantum-safe migration is not a simple upgrade. It requires auditing cryptographic assets across legacy systems, replacing vulnerable algorithms, and ensuring partners and suppliers follow the same standards. StarHub and IBM are betting that starting early will give Singapore enterprises a smoother transition than waiting for regulatory deadlines or, worse, for the first successful quantum attack.
The partnership with IBM will focus on building networks that can withstand quantum attacks, giving StarHub's enterprise customers a path toward post-quantum cryptography. Catherine Lian, IBM's ASEAN chief, framed the work as part of a broader regional effort to keep infrastructure secure as computing paradigms shift.
Why it matters for Singapore: Singapore hosts some of Asia's most concentrated financial, healthcare and government digital infrastructure. A local telco working with a global technology leader on quantum-safe networks means the city-state's critical systems could be protected earlier than those in many rival hubs, reinforcing its pitch as a secure place to run digital business.