IBM-Vodafone Strengthen Mobile Security with Quantum Encryption

Armonk, New York, March 4, 2025 –  Vodafone and IBM have teamed up to protect your smartphone data from future threats posed by powerful quantum computers. Imagine a world where these supercomputers could easily break through the security that keeps your online data safe. To prevent this, Vodafone and IBM are working together to ensure that your smartphone browsing remains secure.

They’ve developed a new way to test how to keep your data safe using IBM’s special Quantum Safe technology. This technology helps protect against future threats by using new encryption methods that even quantum computers can’t break. Vodafone’s popular Secure Net service, which already helps millions of people avoid phishing, malware, and identity theft, is being upgraded with this technology. Secure Net is available in several countries across Europe and protects users on both fixed and mobile networks.

The collaboration involves implementing new post-quantum cryptography standards into the existing encryption methods used by Vodafone Secure Net. This means that Vodafone is looking to introduce new, attack-resistant cryptographic algorithms across its networks, as well as in its business and consumer products. By future-proofing Secure Net, Vodafone and IBM are complementing their work at the industry level to promote the adoption of post-quantum cryptography standards and other security best practices in a future of advanced quantum computing.

Vodafone and IBM are demonstrating this new system at the major industry trade show, Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain. They have support from Akamai Technologies, a leading cybersecurity and cloud computing company. This partnership shows how serious they are about keeping your data safe as technology advances.

Luke Ibbetson, Head of Research & Development at Vodafone, explained that they want their customers to enjoy the internet without worrying about security risks. Quantum computing could bring many benefits, like helping to develop new medicines and optimize digital networks. However, it also poses a threat to the security principles that the internet relies on today. That’s why Vodafone and IBM are working together with other partners to stay ahead of these risks.

Lory Thorpe, Quantum Safe Industry Lead at IBM, added that IBM is proud to expand its collaboration with Vodafone to protect its customers from anticipated quantum risks. It’s crucial for organizations to implement post-quantum cryptography, and Vodafone has led by example as an early adopter of post-quantum security solutions.

In the future, quantum computers could potentially break today’s internet encryption techniques. While this risk may still be years away, cybercriminals are already using “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks to collect and store data for later decryption. Recognizing this risk, IBM’s cryptography researchers co-developed two algorithms that were published as part of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology’s first three post-quantum cryptography standards.

Vodafone became one of the first companies to successfully test IBM Quantum Safe technology to identify and inventory cryptography in its network infrastructure and systems. Through this new proof of concept based on IBM Quantum Safe technology, the company is leading the charge in implementing current post-quantum cryptography standards from NIST.

Vodafone and IBM are also founding members of the GSMA’s Post-Quantum Telco Network Task Force, an industry working group that includes more than 50 telecommunications companies and 20 major operators across the telecommunications industry. This shows their commitment to ensuring that the entire industry is prepared for the security challenges of the future.

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