ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-11195
Open Date: 26/10/2022 14:05 CEST
Closing Date: 27/01/2023 13:00 CEST

The objective of the activity is to adapt and test post quantum cryptography algorithms for satellite telecommunication applications. The activity will include the development of a testbed to evaluate in laboratory environment the performance of the algorithms for secure broadband telecommunications satellite missions. Targeted Improvements:Enable security to the satellite telecommunication systems of 2030 against the danger that quantum computers impose, in line with the major upcoming international standards. Description: As of today, experts cite that most popular current cryptographic algorithms can be efficiently broken by a sufficiently strong quantum computer, triggering the development of new solutions for future secured communications. Those are currently being defined by major security agencies such as NIST and need to be also applied in the satellite domain to secure the satellite telecommunication applications, however given the amount of candidate algorithms for each of the cryptographic classes (i.e. hash functions, symmetric and asymmetric) it is essential to select the solutions best suited to the particularities of specific telecommunication missions. This activity will therefore identify, investigate and trade-off the best candidate algorithms for post quantum computing in each of the cryptography classes, specifically for secure satellite telecommunication missions. The candidate algorithms will be traded-off and tested via a flexible testbed that will be developed for such purpose. The testbed shall have the capability to test multiple satellite system configurations and orbits and the best candidate security algorithms for such missions. The resulted algorithms of this activity shall be promoted for standardisation in the frame of ETSI or other space-related standards.

Directorate: Directorate Telecom Integrated Applica
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Elena Grashchenkova
Initiating Service: TIA-TI
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0534-04A - 4S-Other Act. Prod&T
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CA+CH+CZ+DE+DK+GR+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO
Technology Keywords: 6-A-V-Telecom Security Techniques and Technologies / 12-A-IV-TT&C, Radar and Optical Signal & Data Processing / 12-B-II-Communication Network Technologies and Protocols
Products Keywords: 4-B-3-a-Telemetry and Telecommand equipment, Tracking, Ranging and Doppler measurement equipment, CODECS