Open Call 2 Winning Projects Update: QUAS
QUAS: A Quantum-Shielded Framework for Authentication in Communication Protocols is one of the winning projects of PQ-REACT’s second Open Call. Developed by Edentify and Spritz Matter under Use Case 3 “Context Agility Manager (PQC Benchmarking)”, QUAS is a practical framework to secure modern communication protocols such as QUIC and SIP with post-quantum cryptography.
Work in Progress with QUAS
During the first reporting period, activities focused primarily on dissemination, awareness-building, and public communication about post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and QUAS’s objectives. A structured social media campaign was launched, delivering weekly educational posts with 8 posts made so far, explaining:
• The risks posed by quantum computing to current cryptographic systems.
• The concept of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks.
• The importance of transitioning to quantum-safe cryptographic mechanisms.
• The relevance of PQC for everyday communication tools such as VoIP, web browsing (HTTP/3), and secure messaging.
These posts were published through Edentify’s communication channels and targeted both technical and non-technical audiences to increase understanding of the need for proactive migration to PQC. In parallel, the QUAS project was presented and described on partner websites, including dedicated project sections outlining its objectives, alignment with the PQ-REACT project, the protocols addressed (QUIC and SIP), and the importance of integrating NIST-recommended PQC algorithms into real-world communication stacks. Initial technical coordination between partners also took place during this period, including clarification of the architectural approach for PQC integration and planning for the upcoming implementation phase. However, the primary focus of this first period was on visibility, awareness, and stakeholder engagement.
What’s next?
The next phase will combine continued dissemination with concrete technical implementation. On the technical side, the project will begin integrating PQC-enabled TLS mechanisms into the Linphone SIP client. Implement hybrid cryptographic handshakes (classical + PQC) to ensure backward compatibility. Validate SIP-over-TLS flows using quantum-safe key exchange. Collect benchmarking data (e.g., handshake latency, CPU usage, call setup delay). On the dissemination side, the project will continue the structured social media campaign with more technically detailed updates. Publish technical progress summaries as implementation milestones are reached. Release documentation and implementation artefacts through open repositories. Engage with relevant developers and cybersecurity communities to increase awareness of practical PQC integration challenges and solutions.