Line for quantum communication to be ready next year

Development makes secure network that is theoretically impossible to intercept or crack

China is to start construction on a quantum communication line between Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, and Hefei, the Anhui provincial capital, bringing the nation a step closer to having the world's most secure communication network.

The Wuhan-Hefei quantum communication line will be put into operation around the end of next year and will be connected with the 2,000-kilometer Beijing-Shanghai quantum communication network that is expected to be completed at the end of this year, according to a statement published by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp at a two-day laser technology forum that closed on Wednesday in Wuhan.