King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has announced the launch of the Saudi Quantum Network (SQN) Alliance — a national initiative aimed at advancing quantum communication research and strengthening the Kingdom’s cybersecurity capabilities.

The initiative brings together government entities and leading technology companies, including Cybrani (a subsidiary of Aramco Digital), Salam, Microsoft, and Cisco.

Eng. Ibrahim Alshadokhi, CEO of the Internet Services Unit at KACST, said the SQN Alliance represents a new model of collaboration between the public and private sectors. He noted that the initiative will pilot the development of a quantum network in the Kingdom, helping to build national expertise and technical capabilities in this emerging field.

Alshadokhi added that the alliance, supported by the Saudi Research and Innovation Network (Maeen) at KACST, aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by enabling real-world quantum communication experiments and integrating them with national research and education networks. This approach, he said, advances the nation’s broader research, development, and innovation goals.