A new chapter in Europe's secure communications infrastructure is taking shape in south-eastern Europe, following the launch of the first cross-border quantum communication link between Bulgaria and Romania.
The project was officially inaugurated on Thursday at the Institute of Robotics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia, in an event attended by government officials, European Commission representatives, and diplomats, including delegates from Greece.
The new connection will link Sofia and Bucharest, forming part of a wider European effort to build a continent-wide quantum communication network. This initiative aims to create ultra-secure communication channels for governments, research institutions, and critical infrastructure, as cybersecurity and data protection increasingly become strategic priorities.
According to Bulgaria's Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the link will act as a foundational element of the future pan-European quantum infrastructure. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Borislav Bankov underlined its regional importance, stating: "The connection with Bucharest will provide a secure communication channel for government institutions, research organisations and strategic enterprises in the region."
Beyond bilateral connectivity, the project is designed to integrate into a broader "quantum corridor" spanning multiple countries. The emerging network will connect national quantum infrastructures across Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and the Netherlands, effectively linking south-eastern Europe with central and western Europe.
Bankov added that the initiative will "lay the foundations for the future development of quantum services", supporting digital transformation, cybersecurity, and Europe's technological sovereignty. Once completed, the system is expected to form the largest strategic terrestrial quantum communication network in Europe, positioning Bulgaria as a key regional hub in the continent's next-generation digital architecture.
