Quantum communication—Key technology for secure networks
Quantum communication is at the heart of tomorrow’s connected world. It enables tap-proof data transmission, connects quantum computers to form powerful systems, and lays the foundation for the quantum internet. Experience at World of Quantum how current approaches are paving the way to a new era of IT security.
Quantum communication: security and networking for the quantum world
Quantum communication can ensure the interception-proof exchange of information and data. This is because data packets can be secured in quantum networks, using entangled photon pairs. Any unauthorized attempt to open it would end the interlocking state and thus be noticed immediately.
Quantum network – networked quantum infrastructures
In addition to security, quantum networks have another central function. They can create very powerful, secure connections between quantum computers and between quantum sensors. That would be the key to distributed quantum computing. Several quantum computers are interconnected to form a system with scaled capacity and performance.
Quantum Communication for Industry & Science
Secure quantum networks are also essential for remote access to quantum computers that are initially available only to a limited extent. They enable industrial and scientific users right from the start to familiarize themselves with the possibilities of quantum computing or benefit from the advantages of decentralized quantum sensor networks.
World of Quantum – meeting place for quantum communication
Become part of a dynamic international community, already meeting for the third time at World of Quantum in Munich. Similar to quantum entanglement, the technology fields of quantum computing, quantum sensor technology and communication are inseparable: They are continuing to develop in sync with each other, are based on the same quantum mechanical principles, use comparable and predominantly photonic building blocks, and are equally relevant for the market success of quantum technology.
At World of Quantum, you will meet leading solution providers, bright minds from the field of research and interested users from many industries, including:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Medicine and diagnostics
- Sensors and measuring technology
- Information and communication technology
- Mechanical and plant engineering
- Automation
- Chemistry and pharmaceuticals
Drive progress in quantum communication in an integrated approach that brings together solution providers, science and practical application.
Quantum networks: strategically decisive for quantum communication
Quantum networks fulfill many tasks. They
- make communication bug-proof
- allow external users remote access to quantum computers
- connect quantum computers of various types to form quantum systems, or
- create connections to decentralized quantum sensors.
With these functions, quantum networks are strategically decisive for the success of quantum technologies as well as for their rapid market penetration and acceptance. This is obvious with quantum computing. Unlike conventional computers, quantum computers will remain a limited resource not available to all companies, research centers or households for the foreseeable future. This is due to the fact that their operation requires specific infrastructure—such as cryo-cooling to temperatures close to absolute zero and secure shielding against environmental influences.
Limits of quantum communication
In order to provide many users with secure access to quantum computers, there will initially be Metropolitan-Scale Quantum Networks. There is a practical reason for their limited regional range: currently there are no repeaters that can be used to amplify transmitted quantum signals. This is in contrast to the no-cloning theorem, according to which no copy of an unknown quantum state is possible.
Milestones of quantum communication
Technological gaps such as these have so far limited quantum communication. But the quantum community has proven more than once that it can quickly turn boundaries into surmountable hurdles. For example, the low-noise conversion of entangled quanta into standard telecom frequencies and their transmission via conventional optical fibers was long considered an almost insurmountable challenge. Corresponding solutions will be on show at World of Quantum 2027.
Current test fields quantum communication
In order to be able to test the hardware and software for quantum communication in practice, research infrastructures are currently being created in many places:
- dark fiber networks
- nodes for a quantum internet of the future and
- satellites with corresponding photon sources that generate secure quantum keys and transmit them to users on earth.
Quantum cryptography as a security-relevant factor for numerous industries
Quantum cryptography is a key technology. It is foreseeable that today’s encryption methods can be overridden with quantum computers. In order to continue to guarantee data security and protect critical infrastructures, government organizations, the financial sector, the energy industry and the telecommunications sector need quantum-secure solutions. There is a separate field of research for this, post-quantum cryptography, which is all about quantum-secure encryption with highly complicated mathematical functions that cannot be broken even with the help of a quantum computer.
Approaches for quantum-secure data transmission already exist. These include quantum random number generation (QRNG). Instead of algorithmic processes, they use the inherent unpredictability of quantum behavior to generate completely unpredictable random numbers for cryptographic keys. Another approach is quantum key distribution (QKD), based on single photon sources and detectors. Both methods are regarded in the industry as a bridging technology to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and to an entanglement-based quantum internet of the future.
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FAQ – the most important facts about quantum communication research
Quantum communication is a new type of data transmission. It uses physical effects from the quantum world – in particular what is known as the entanglement of photons – for the secure and tap-proof transmission of information.
In quantum communication, any attempt to intercept transmitted quantum information changes the state of the data straight away and verifiably. Attempts at manipulation can thus be detected instantly – a major advantage over conventional encryption.
Quantum networks link quantum computers, sensors and communication devices using quantum connections. They enable secure transmission, shared computing power and the creation of a future quantum internet.
There are numerous applications for quantum communication:
- for secure communication in public authorities, banks and critical infrastructures
- for remote access to quantum computers
- to link quantum sensors and distributed computers
- as the basis for new applications such as distributed quantum computing
In part, yes: The first pilot projects and test networks are underway, for example in Europe and Asia. Technologies such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) are already being tested in practice, especially in security-related areas.
At World of Quantum 2027, you can look forward to the following on quantum communication:
- Live demonstrations of quantum networks
- Discussions with leading providers and research teams
- Technology trends from fields such as QKD (Quantum Key Distribution), QRNG (Quantum Random Number Generation) and photonics
- Applications for your sector – whether it’s IT, energy, logistics or security
No, quantum communication is not faster than light. Like all information transmission, it is subject to the speed of light as a physical limit. Although entangled particles can correlate instantaneously over vast distances, this entanglement cannot be used to transmit conventional information at superluminal velocity. In other words, the apparently “fast” effect of entanglement does not mean that data can actually be transmitted faster than the speed of light.