IDEMIA Secure Transactions is working with South Korea telecommunications operator KT to test SIM-based post-quantum cryptography for defense communications under a government-backed pilot program.
The collaboration is part of South Korea’s 2026 Post-Quantum Cryptography Pilot Conversion Project, organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency. It will assess how secure smart-card technology can support cryptographic protections intended to withstand future quantum computing threats.
IDEMIA said it is implementing algorithms standardized by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, alongside Korean post-quantum algorithms, on its Quantum-Resistant SIM platform.
Subject to final validation, the company expects the project to deliver Korea’s first implementation of KpqC1 algorithms on a smart-card platform. That result has not yet been confirmed.
Testing Across Korea’s Defense Systems
KT’s broader pilot involves the Ministry of National Defense and the Army Information and Communication School. It covers smart-unit platforms, user PCs, CCTV and video storage systems, drones and ground control systems, and 5G networks.
The pilot is designed to assess the performance and practical use of post-quantum cryptography under demanding operating conditions.
Within that architecture, IDEMIA’s Quantum-Resistant SIM serves as a hardware root of trust, a protected component that generates and safeguards sensitive credentials and performs cryptographic operations.
The approach extends the role of SIM technology beyond identifying and authenticating mobile subscribers. IDEMIA said the secure elements could provide key management and other cryptographic services for connected devices used in defense, government and critical infrastructure.
Working Within Hardware Limits
Post-quantum algorithms can require substantially more processing power and memory than many conventional cryptographic methods, creating challenges for devices with limited computing resources.
IDEMIA said its dedicated SIM and eSIM technology is designed to handle those operations within a tamper-resistant environment. The project aims to add post-quantum capabilities at the secure-element level while limiting the need for extensive changes to devices.
Supporting both international and Korean algorithms is also intended to demonstrate cryptographic agility, the ability to change algorithms as standards and security requirements evolve without redesigning entire systems.
“At IDEMIA Secure Transactions, we see the transition to post-quantum security as a strategic imperative to safeguard digital trust for the long term. Our collaboration with KT demonstrates how post-quantum readiness can turn this challenge into a practical transformation enabling organizations to evolve securely. By combining trusted infrastructure with deep cryptographic expertise, we are laying the foundations for resilient, scalable security in the quantum era.” – Fabien Jautard, EVP Connectivity Services at IDEMIA Secure Transactions
The pilot forms part of the company’s broader post-quantum development plans under its IDEMIA SPHERE cybersecurity suite. Its results are expected to help assess how SIM and eSIM platforms could support post-quantum security across telecommunications, connected devices and defense applications.
Key Facts
- IDEMIA Secure Transactions is collaborating with KT on South Korea’s 2026 Post-Quantum Cryptography Pilot Conversion Project, organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA).
- IST is implementing both NIST-standardized and Korean PQC algorithms on a Quantum-Resistant SIM designed to support secure communications and future quantum-safe requirements.
- The project is expected to deliver the first implementation of KpqC algorithms on a smart-card platform in Korea.
- KT’s broader pilot covers critical defense environments including smart-unit platforms, PCs, CCTV and video storage systems, drones and ground control systems, and 5G networks.
- Crypto-agility is the ability to adapt to evolving cryptographic algorithms, standards and regulatory requirements without redesigning entire systems. By supporting both international and Korean PQC algorithms in the same secure-element environment, the project is designed to demonstrate this flexibility.
