Malaysia weighs faster quantum migration for data protection
Fahmi has asked MCMC to explore cooperation with security agencies and telecommunications companies, including a research and development space.
Malaysia is weighing whether to speed up quantum migration to improve national data security, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said, citing the challenges that quantum computing could present to existing safeguards.
Fahmi said he had tasked the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) with approaching the National Security Council (MKN), the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) and telecommunications companies about possible cooperation. This would include creating a research and development (R&D) space to help Malaysia undertake quantum migration more quickly and securely.
He was speaking after touring exhibition booths at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Doha 2026 on Nov 8. Quantum-safe communication was among the technologies that drew his attention for its role in future data protection.
Fahmi said quantum computers were expected to reach the market in the near future and challenge the cryptography and encryption methods currently protecting data. Quantum migration involves updating digital security systems with quantum-resistant encryption to guard against potential threats from future quantum computers.
His exhibition visit also covered technologies incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into security systems and smart city services, he said.
