So I guess the Swiss have an operational data archiving network utilizing quantum cryptography for security. For those who have not followed the crypto revolution, quantum cryptography (as I understand it) makes use of the quantum states of matter to create provable network security -- if the data follows anything but its predicted path, you'll know because quantum state information cryptographically incorporated into the data stream will reflect it. It's exciting because it means that in the near future, we may no longer be constrained by the fear that someone, somehow may find a backdoor to our most trusted security measures.
This news item also gives me a chance to plug one of my favorite movies Sneakers -- the movie that got me interested in the importance of the network. In brief, the movie is about a scientist who actually discovers the sort of crypto Holy Grail -- an algorithm for cutting through powerful encryption with no muss and no fuss. He hardcodes it into a chip, and the movie is basically about a merry band of network security techs who chase the chip around, with The Fate Of The World riding on their antics. The movie is full of grevious technical errors I'm sure, but on the other hand it stars Robert Redford, so . . .
[ EDIT: I would also like to add that this movie is inexplicably not on Netflix. Could it be that it is too dangerous for the mass market? Meh, more likely it's just that it's not that good. ]