The Asia-Pacific Cyber Security Summit came to an end, and the meeting passed a resolution to finalize the new international encryption algorithm standard.

Referring to this standard, the communications departments of various countries will upgrade a series of systems with security risks such as finance and the Internet according to their own needs, and replace them with more secure quantum encryption algorithms.

Of course, the vast majority of countries still directly copy the QS2000 encryption algorithm proposed by Huaguo.

After all, both this thing and the quantum computer were created by Professor Lu, and probably no one knows better than him how to defend against cyber attacks launched by quantum computers.

And no matter how you look at it, Professor Lu's achievements in mathematics are still a little higher than those in physics.

Even if it's a psychological comfort, it's better than nothing.

California, North America.

At SubCom's corporate headquarters, a board meeting is about to take place.

Stepping into the conference room and sitting down, the expression on CEO Markati's face sank into the water, and there was no trace of ease in sight, even if he tried to make himself look comfortable with the current situation, but he couldn't do it at all.

The recent situation has been very bad.

Although part of this was due to the external environment, the failure of the No. 3 Asia-Pacific cable plan, the company's stock price continued to fall, and earnings could not meet expectations, but it cannot be ignored that the board of directors did not see the slightest opportunity to turn things around.

In particular, East Asia Communications has completed the merger and reorganization of domestic communication companies and is vigorously entering the international market.

There is no doubt that these industry giants, who have monopolized the market for decades, are facing the most severe crisis in their history.

Coincidentally, just a few days ago, at the just-concluded Asia-Pacific Cyber Information Security Summit, China has united more than 50 countries to establish the "New Global Submarine Optical Cable Commission", abbreviated as GSOC, and planned a quantum optical fiber cable along the Tropic of Cancer across the Pacific Ocean, through Central America, connecting the Atlantic Ocean, across the Mediterranean, and flying over the Indian Ocean.

And this fiber optic cable, worth more than $50 billion, has nothing to do with them.

Not only that, but the United States, which was originally opposed to this submarine quantum optical cable, suddenly became ambiguous at this time.

At least Congress has decided to leave the White House aside and have the Federal Communications Commission come forward to negotiate with China about "network access."

The national interest is important, but it must also be under the premise of protecting the interests of Wall Street.

If Wall Street loses control of the global economy, the United States, which has turned the service industry into a pillar industry and has carried out deindustrialization to the end, will definitely not be able to support the current economic scale. If something like this happens, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Not surprisingly, this absolutely confidential technology is the trend of the future.

After all, with traditional fiber optic cables, the transmitted data has no secrets in front of quantum computers, and only needs to cooperate with a nuclear submarine to do data collection, and it can listen to the communication of the entire line without being discovered by anyone.

With the computing power of quantum computers, the people who collect data definitely have the ability to sift out the useful parts from the sea of data.

If even basic security cannot be guaranteed, there is no such thing as credit.

"Mr. Markati," said Markati, looking up at Markati sitting at the conference table, Chairman Bob Carter staring into his eyes and tapping his notebook lightly with the lid of his pen, "You're finally here." ”

Trying to resist the pressure in his gaze, Markati spoke, his face tense.

"It's been a little delayed at work, can we get started?"

"Of course, but before the meeting begins, I want to ask you something."

"What's the matter?"

"We understand that our company seems to be completely excluded from the global submarine cable project, and there is no progress at all," Carter's eyes gradually sharpened, and he raised his voice slightly and asked, "Is that so?" ”

Guessing that the chairman would ask this question, Markati took a deep breath and tried to defend himself, but after thinking for a while, he couldn't think of how to do it, so he had to reluctantly speak.

"We're working on it."

Carter nodded and continued.

"I appreciate your efforts, but there are some things that can be solved by more than just effort, and we need to see results, not bad earnings and plummeting stock prices."

Markati: "Earnings reports and stock prices don't represent everything, a lot of things are invisible. We have commissioned the Quantum Communications Institute at Argonne National Laboratory to jointly develop quantum repeater technology, and we will wait until we have solved the most critical technical bottleneck——"

Carter asked sharply.

"How long will this take?"

Markati's tone froze, and he was silent for a full minute.

“…… I can only assure you that in two years you will definitely be able to. ”

"It seems that you are quite honest, and you can solve the problem without fooling me for three months," the chairman nodded, and casually threw the report in his hand aside, "However, it is a pity that honesty and hard work will not solve anything." ”

Markati fell silent, his fist resting under the table clenching unconsciously, then slowly releasing it.

"You're right."

Carter: "Is there a solution?" ”

Looking at Markati who had fallen silent, Carter sighed, and his face showed an expression that was indeed so.

While he can't be blamed for this kind of thing, the truth is that they have to make some changes in order to survive.

Even if they may have to make some sacrifices for it.

"BEA Telecom has an interesting offer for us," he said, gesturing to his secretary, who took a contract from his hand and placed it lightly on the table, "a financing proposal worth about $20 billion." ”

Two tens of billions!

Many of you gasped.

Especially those small shareholders whose equity share is not very high and have just learned the news, in addition to gasping, their faces are changing uncertain expressions.

BEA Telecom became a shareholder.

It's hard to say what the impact will be on the majority shareholder, after all, they and Dongya Telecom will definitely reach some agreement that they don't know about. However, this is definitely not a good thing for them, the minority shareholders, and the trust company that holds shares in SubCom.

But in order to survive, the board of directors clearly intends to sacrifice their interests......

"You can't take it!"

Almost reflexively, Markati stood up abruptly, propped his hands on the table, and said in an agitated tone.

"This is a conspiracy of the Chinese. Although they do have a certain advantage in quantum communication technology, they are at least 20 years behind us in terms of submarine fiber optic cable laying and construction experience, once those Chinese people are allowed to enter our board of directors——"

Carter: "You don't have to worry about that, the directors here will vote......"

Markati said in a threatening tone: "It is impossible for the Ministry of Commerce to approve it!" ”

As if he hadn't heard this, Carter calmly looked at the stiff-faced Markati and said in a nonchalant tone.

“…… As for you, thank you for all these years of dedication to SubCom. East Asia Telecom hopes to appoint a new CEO to facilitate business docking. ”

"After the meeting, let's go to the finance side and settle the salary."

Looking at Markati, who was angry and slammed the door and walked out of the conference room, and the board members who looked at each other, Carter sighed softly in his heart with an expressionless face.

In any case, SubCom has already lost.

Soon the entire submarine cable market will usher in a seismic reshuffle, and neither SubCom nor NEC will be able to prevent this change from coming.

In fact, NEC has exited the submarine cable market and has begun to focus its business back on its fundamentals of the electrical industry. Their old rivals in Europe are also trying to transform their industries, laying off many employees.

It doesn't matter if he made the right decision today.

This is already their only option.