SEEWQCI: South-East Europe to Western Europe Quantum Communication Infrastructure (GR – CY – BG – NL)
SEEWQCI: South-East and Western Europe Quantum Communication Infrastructure is a strategic project that aims to create a cross-border quantum communications network between Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
SEEWQCI Project – 101249531 is co-funded by Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Programme, the EuroQCI EU funding initiative.
A Resilient Quantum Network
The project aims to develop a resilient quantum network to ensure the secure transmission of sensitive data between government agencies, research institutions, and critical infrastructure, expand and interconnect the existing NatQICs with partner networks to create a miniature model of EuroQCI, integrate satellite quantum communications using Optical Ground Stations (OGS) and the EAGLE-1 satellite to enhance pan-European quantum connectivity and strengthen cooperation between participating countries while ensuring full interoperability with European initiatives.
SEEWQCI combines terrestrial (optical fiber) and satellite (Quantum Key Distribution, QKD) connections to provide secure data transmission, placing Greece and South-East to Western Europe at the forefront of quantum communications, strengthening cybersecurity and Europe’s strategic autonomy and enhancing security and interoperability within EuroQCI.
Digital Sovereignty & Resilience
Quantum technologies are vital for Europe’s digital sovereignty and resilience. As quantum computers advance, today’s encryption systems may become vulnerable, threatening sensitive data and critical infrastructure. To address this challenge, the European Union is deploying the EuroQCI initiative — a pan-European quantum communication infrastructure that combines terrestrial and satellite systems. SEEWQCI will build a secure, scalable infrastructure linking the National Quantum Communication Infrastructures (NatQCIs) of Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus and the Netherlands. By advancing the technical maturity of EuroQCI and IRIS² with a hybrid terrestrial– satellite design, it will deliver ultra-secure communication channels for governments, national security authorities (NSAs) and security operation centers (SOCs), while strengthening Europe’s overall cybersecurity resilience.
The action will deploy a 1,100 km terrestrial quantum network from Greece to Bulgaria, forming the starting point of a Balkan Corridor that connects South-East with Central and Western Europe. It will also establish five Optical Ground Stations in Greece, Cyprus and the Netherlands, enabling six cross-border links that include terrestrial, satellite and hybrid configurations. These demonstrations will validate quantum-secure communications for critical sectors and government services. By interconnecting more than 30 trusted nodes and testing 29 secure communication scenarios, the project will reinforce Europe’s leadership in quantum technologies, contribute to EUwide cybersecurity frameworks, and ensure resilient digital infrastructure. It will create a safer digital environment for citizens and institutions, while fostering cross-border cooperation among ministries, SOCs and NSAs.
SEEWQCI Objectives
Objective 1: Develop the SEE Terrestrial QKD corridor
Objective 2: Establish Satellite connectivity linking SEE & WE
Objective 3: SEEWQCI KMS and network orchestration
Objective 4: SEEWQCI Demonstrations
Objective 5: Cooperation with EuroQCI stakeholders
Objective 6: Alignment with EuroQCI and the EU-QCI requirements and standardization efforts
