Policy
IDEMIA and KT put NIST and Korean PQC algorithms on SIM cards for defense pilot
IDEMIA Secure Transactions is working with KT to implement both NIST-standardized and Korean (KpqC) post-quantum algorithms on Quantum-Resistant SIM cards. The work 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. The implementation is designed to be the first deployment of KpqC algorithms on a smart-card platform in Korea. The pilot also covers smart-unit platforms, PCs, CCTV and video storage, drones, ground control systems and 5G networks, with the Ministry of National Defense and the Army Information and Communication School involved in verification.
Why it mattersPost-quantum algorithms demand more processing power and memory, and the companies say SIM and eSIM secure elements can handle this without extensive changes to existing devices. The KpqC algorithms came from a national competition run by a research group established in 2021, so the pilot tests international and domestic standards side by side.