Canadian firms join NATO drive for post-quantum secure comms

Canadian firms Ammolite Security and Myntex have been selected to participate in the NATO Innovation Continuum, a program focused on advancing the adoption of emerging technologies across the NATO alliance.

The NATO Innovation Continuum is a strategic effort spearheaded by NATO Allied Command Transformation to foster engagement between academia, industry, and national partners. The organisation says the goal is to strengthen collective defence capabilities amidst changing global threats and to maintain readiness by exploring new technology adoption pathways.

Ammolite Security and Myntex were chosen for their secure communications platforms, which have been specifically developed to defend against weaponised malware and commercial spyware threats originating from both state and non-state actors. The platform brings together a hardened mobile operating system with encrypted messaging and embedded device management, and can operate independently from third-party cloud or hosting services.

Under NATO's innovation program, Ammolite Security and Myntex have delivered post-quantum secure communications by combining a custom-hardened Android operating system with an encrypted messaging platform. The platform supports encrypted calling, messaging, group communications, and secure multimedia sharing. It also features an out-of-band, portable communications unit for device management and operates independently from the cloud, with integration options if required. The system employs a sovereign, zero-trust framework to counter both conventional and quantum-enabled cybersecurity threats.

Through these measures, the platform is designed to offer continuity for government, defence, and allied organisations operating in contested or high-risk environments, even where communications infrastructure may be compromised.

At a recent event in Portugal, Ammolite Security and Myntex joined forces with UK-based Sma-rty, the UK Ministry of Defence, and Polish firm MicroAmp to develop a joint experiment as part of the 5G Testbed Portability Experiment. The effort is in line with NATO's objective to establish a NATO-owned 5G prototype network to support wider adoption of emerging disruptive technologies.

The GLOW experiment demonstrated a backhaul network configuration using both FR1 (sub-6 GHz) and FR2 (millimetre wave) frequency bands, providing a dual-band approach that allows for rapid restoration of communications in jamming situations. The solution's deployment at the tactical edge includes a customer premises equipment (CPE) unit delivering either Wi-Fi or 5G connectivity, supporting edge devices, drone video feeds, and quantum-resilient secure communications. In FR2 mode, data transfer extends to mmWave bodycams, providing high-bandwidth coverage for frontline positions and supporting operational continuity for existing and next-generation edge technologies.

"Nation-states often collect and store encrypted data to decrypt later, posing a serious threat. By showcasing our post-quantum secure communications, we're helping allied forces safeguard sensitive information today and ensure it remains protected well into the future," said Geoff Green, CEO of Myntex.

The group will continue refining its experiment over the coming weeks before it is presented at the SHINE event in Turkey, as part of the NATO Innovation Continuum programme. Ammolite Security and Myntex, serving as Canada's representatives, intend to demonstrate the advancements to Defence and allied audiences on the global stage.