Composite photo shows a satellite-to-earth link established between quantum satellite "Micius" and the quantum teleportation experiment platform in Ali, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. File photo: Xinhua

Israel's first ground station for monitoring satellites was inaugurated at Tel Aviv University (TAU), the Israel Space Agency (ISA) said recently.

Through the new station, TAU space scientists plan to create optical and quantum communications with satellites in space, the ISA said in a statement.

The station will be used by worldwide governmental and commercial entities for checking the status of their satellites in orbit, it added.

It includes a satellite observatory dome with a diameter of 4.25 meters, a tracking system, a primary high-speed camera and secondary cameras, laser equipment, single-photon detectors, and a tracking robot that enables the simultaneous carrying of two telescopes.

In order to achieve quantum communication with space, it is necessary to first achieve optical tracking of a satellite in orbit, establish optical communication with a satellite, and create quantum communication with drones and another ground station.

Quantum communication uses quantum entangled photons to transmit a key that enables information to be completely encrypted.

Any attempt to copy the information will destroy the original signal and expose any hacking attempt to both communicating parties, the ISA explained.

More countries have been making progress in quantum technology.

Also in this week, Canada announced a new federal investment of 40 million Canadian dollars ($32 million) to build and commercialize the world's first photonic-based, fault-tolerant quantum computer.

Earlier in January, Canada launched its National Quantum Strategy, which invests an additional $288 million to help solidify Canada as a global leader in quantum technologies.