Quantum network technology

Prof Dr Stephanie Wehner, Director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance, explains how quantum network technology and a quantum internet could revolutionise communication and connectivityThe internet, an intricate network connecting devices across the globe with classical communication, has profoundly shaped our world. The potential is immense, and the vision of a quantum internet is to build a universal quantum network that can be programmed to run any type of future quantum network application. No long-distance quantum networks are deployed today that enable end-to-end quantum communication and, thus, end-to-end quantum secure communications. Quantum memory stageThis stage can be reached if the devices connected to the quantum network are quantum processors, that is, quantum computers capable of storing and manipulating a few qubits. (7)Quantum internet allianceThe Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) is a partnership of presently 40 members, including leading actors from academia, and industry in Europe, to build a prototype Quantum Internet.