Riyadh, November 3, 2025 — Etihad Salam, a leading Saudi provider of secure digital infrastructure and advanced communications, has joined the Saudi Arabia Quantum Network Consortium (SQNC)—a national initiative spearheaded by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) through its Saudi Research & Innovation Network, MAEEN.
The SQNC unites a coalition of global and regional technology leaders—including Microsoft, Cisco Systems, and Cyberani—to accelerate the development of quantum-secure communications across the Kingdom. Together, these partners aim to build resilient, post-quantum networks that ensure data protection and digital sovereignty.
“Our partnership with the Saudi Quantum Network Consortium marks a transformative step in realizing the Kingdom’s quantum ambitions,” said Ahmed Al-Anqari, CEO of Etihad Salam. “By harnessing the combined strengths of global innovators and national institutions, we are building the infrastructure that will secure Saudi Arabia’s digital sovereignty.”
The initiative aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting technological leadership, economic diversification, and the creation of a knowledge-based economy. SQNC will act as a bridge between academia, industry, and government, developing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems, advanced encryption protocols, and a nationwide quantum communications backbone.
Etihad Salam’s participation will focus on applying its expertise in secure networking and digital infrastructure to design and deploy next-generation quantum-safe connectivity solutions. These efforts will strengthen critical systems across government, finance, and defense sectors while preparing the Kingdom for the era of quantum computing.
Industry analysts note that the global quantum communication market—projected to reach $15 billion by 2035—is rapidly expanding. Through early investments in post-quantum cryptography and quantum-safe networks, Saudi Arabia positions itself at the forefront of digital resilience and regional innovation leadership.
