Faced with accelerating quantum development, countries from the US to India are shortening timelines to migrate critical systems to quantum-safe cryptography well before the 2030s.

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1. United States: Mandatory Migration by 2035, with Accelerated Prep

The US federal government, guided by NIST standards, has set a firm deadline of completing PQC migration for all federal systems by 2035, with many agencies expected to begin deploying quantum-safe solutions well before then. Laws like the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act and CISA roadmaps mandate early adoption of PQC, with heavy federal funding ($7.1 billion) fueling a national push toward quantum resilience.

2. European Union: Front-Loading High-Risk Systems by 2030

On June 23, 2025, the European Commission unveiled a coordinated roadmap requiring all EU member states to begin PQC implementation by end-2026, with all critical infrastructure protected by PQC no later than 2030. Full migration across all systems is expected to conclude by 2035. This compresses earlier projections and signals firm political and regulatory will across Europe.

3. United Kingdom: Transition Plans Due by 2028, Full Migration by 2035

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) requires critical organizations to identify cryptographic vulnerabilities by 2028 and complete post-quantum migration by 2035. This aligns closely with US and EU benchmarks and signals a coordinated Western front against the quantum threat.

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4. India: National Quantum Mission Accelerates PQC Readiness

India’s Strategic efforts, led by ISRO and DRDO, include a three-tier quantum roadmap aimed at deploying unhackable quantum networks across civilian and defense sectors. The National Quantum Mission, with ₹6,000 crore investment, is targeting rapid PQC integration into critical digital infrastructure—indicating aggressive timeline compression (circa 2026–2028) for technology readiness.

5. South Korea: Finalizing Standards in 2025, Full Adoption by 2035

South Korea has completed its national PQC algorithm selection under the KPQC process, mandated standardization by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) in 2025. The country’s roadmap, spanning 2025–2035, will see full-scale PQC rollout across public and private sectors—closely mirroring Western strategies and reflecting global consensus on PQC urgency.

Why Now? A Global Countdown to Quantum Threat

• Quantum Ready Soon: Experts estimate a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) capable of breaking RSA-2048 will arrive around 2030.

• “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” Tactic: Encryption used today may be decrypted later when quantum power becomes available—making PQC a proactive necessity.

• Critical Infrastructure at Stake: Governments are prioritizing sectors like banking, telecom, defense, energy, and healthcare for rapid PQC deployment by 2030.

What This Means for Businesses and Individuals

• Cryptographic Inventory Required: Organizations must assess current systems and data lifespan to prioritize PQC adoption.

• Hybrid Crypto is Key: Transition strategies should deploy hybrid classical/PQC algorithms immediately, with full PQC follow-up.

• Vendor Accountability: Expect demands for crypto-agile products and vendor roadmaps in contracts and procurement.

• Collaboration & Standards Matter: Global alignment—via NIST, ETSI, and PQC forums—is essential for interoperability and security.

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Conclusion: The Quantum Clock Is Ticking

What was once a future concern has become a present-day priority. Nations worldwide are converging on compressed timelines ahead of the looming quantum threat. With high-risk systems mandated to be quantum-safe by 2030, and full-scale migration expected by 2035, the next five years are pivotal.

For governments, enterprises, and service providers, the era of post-quantum preparedness has begun. Whether you are securing critical infrastructure or customer data, the time to act—and to act together—is now.