Europe is pushing to create a new, safer network infrastructure based on quantum physics to prevent hackers from stealing information.
In May 2023, Dr. Benjamin Lanyon at the University of Innsbruck in Austria made a significant breakthrough in developing a new type of Internet. He transmitted information along a 50 km fiber optic cable using principles of quantum physics. Information in quantum physics differs from the binary data units stored and processed by computers, which are at the core of today’s World Wide Web. The world of quantum physics focuses on the properties and interactions of molecules, atoms, and even smaller particles like electrons and photons. Quantum bits or qubits provide the potential for more accurate information transmission, helping to thwart information theft over networks.
Europe, China, and the US are investing in the development of quantum computing and the quantum Internet. (Image: metamorworks)
Lanyon stated that his research will make a quantum Internet feasible within cities, with the ultimate goal of intercity connectivity. His breakthrough is part of a research project by the European Union (EU) aimed at advancing towards a quantum Internet. Named the Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA), the project brings together numerous research institutes and companies across Europe. QIA has received funding of $25.5 million from the EU over 3.5 years, until the end of March 2026, according to Phys.org.
“The quantum Internet will not replace the conventional Internet but will complement it“, said Stephanie Wehner, a professor of quantum information at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and coordinator of QIA.
A key concept in quantum physics is quantum entanglement. If two particles are entangled, regardless of the distance between them in space, they still share similar properties. For instance, both may have the same “spin,” indicating the direction of intrinsic angular momentum of a fundamental particle. The spin state of the particle remains indeterminate until observed. Prior to observation, they exist in multiple states known as superposition. Once observed, the state of both particles is clearly defined.
This is highly beneficial for communication security. Those attempting to intercept quantum data will leave a distinct trace due to changes in the state of the observed particle. “We can utilize the properties of quantum entanglement to achieve a secure communication method even if the attacker has a quantum computer”, Wehner explained.
The capability of secure communication enabled by the quantum Internet could open up a broader range of applications compared to traditional Internet. For example, in medicine, quantum entanglement allows for clock synchronization, improving remote surgeries. In astronomy, telescopes conducting distant observations can “use the quantum Internet to create entanglement effects among sensors, providing much higher quality images of the sky,” Wehner noted.
The current challenge is to scale up the quantum Internet to utilize multiple particles over long distances. Lanyon and his team also demonstrated communication not just between individual particles but also across particle beams (in this case, light particles or photons), enhancing the entanglement rate among quantum nodes. The ultimate goal is to expand quantum nodes over a larger range, potentially up to 500 km, creating a type of quantum Internet capable of connecting distant cities, similar to traditional networks.
In addition to Europe, China and the US have also made significant strides in quantum computing and the quantum Internet in recent years. Europe is advancing further by developing integrated spaces and ground infrastructure for secure communication, a core component of the quantum Internet.
