CASE STUDYSetting up the foundations for a quantum internet
WhatIS THE QUANTUM INTERNET?
The quantum internet can be described as a type of future network that will enable the transmission of quantum information between quantum devices – quantum computers, sensors and communication systems – through large-scale quantum networks over long distances. (You can read more about quantum networks here).
Although researchers agree that a quantum internet is not intended to replicate or replace the classical internet, its potential roles and applications remain an active area of exploration. Expected benefits include quantum cryptography, enhanced processing power for particularly complex computational tasks, and heightened sensing precision for scientific problems in fields like astronomy.
Significant progress is currently being made towards the development of its component parts, namely quantum processors, quantum sensors, and the underpinning quantum networking technologies: quantum memories and repeaters, quantum satellite links and quantum secure communication systems.
A quantum internet will be underpinned by the same quantum physics principles that enable superior computational power for quantum computers and future-proof security in quantum communications, namely superposition, entanglement and the no-cloning theorem. A quantum internet will process information in quantum bits or qubits, which represent combinations of multiple quantum states and in turn translate to much faster processing ability than that of conventional computers. Similarly, the fragile nature of quantum states means that any attempt to measure them irrevocably disturbs them, alerting users to potential interception attempts. Qubits can also become entangled, a phenomenon in which two or more particles are linked so that the state of one is directly related to the state of the others, even when separated by large distances. This enables distant devices to share quantum information in ways that have no classical equivalent.
Rather than simply sending data from one point to another, a quantum internet would enable locally separated devices to share entangled quantum states. These shared states could be used to perform tasks that are more secure and more complex than those achievable with today's internet technologies in quantum secure ways, resistant to interception.
Rather than replacing today's internet, a quantum internet would likely operate alongside existing infrastructure, adding powerful new functionality where quantum advantage would be useful.
This is likely to be in specialised sectors to begin with, where exceptional security and performance is required. For this reason, government, defence, scientific research and critical infrastructure are expected to be among the first end user communities.
The quantum internet could therefore:
- enable secure collaboration between organisations without exposing sensitive information.
- connect quantum computers exchanging quantum information, allowing larger and more complex calculations than could be performed by standalone machines.
- connect quantum sensor networks to share measurements across regions, improving monitoring and detection capabilities.
Quantum networking could strengthen long-term cyber security by enabling communication methods that can detect eavesdropping and protect sensitive information.
Countries and organisations are already expanding their investment in quantum technologies. By building the foundations of a quantum internet now, the UK can lead the development of new quantum applications as well as shape future standards and operating systems.
- Global quantum-secure communications
- Distributed quantum computing services
- International networks of quantum sensors
- Advanced scientific research collaborations
RESEARCH
Researchers worldwide are driving progress in this area with UK universities and industry playing an important role through the EPSRC-funded IQN Hub.
