China's quantum satellite makes breakthrough in secure communications

The technology so far is the only way to establish secure keys between two distant locations on earth without relying on trustful relay.

BEIJING: A Chinese quantum satellite has dispatched transmissions over a distance of 1,200 km , a dozen times further than the previous record, a breakthrough in a technology that could be used to deliver secure messages, state media said on Friday. 

China launched the world's first quantum satellite last August, to help establish "hack proof" communications between space and the ground, state media said at the time.