- Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge have successfully demonstrated the UK’s first long-distance quantum network.
- The network uses standard fibreoptic infrastructure and relies on quantum phenomena for ultra-secure data transfer.
What happened: Breakthrough in quantum communication
Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge have achieved a significant milestone by demonstrating the UK’s first long-distance ultra-secure communication over a quantum network. This network utilises standard fibreoptic infrastructure but incorporates advanced quantum technologies to enable secure data transfer. The network employs two types of quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes: one that uses ‘unhackable’ encryption keys hidden within particles of light, and another that relies on distributed entanglement, a phenomenon where quantum particles are intrinsically linked.
The capabilities of the network were showcased through a live quantum-secure video conference, the transfer of encrypted medical data, and secure remote access to a distributed data centre. The data was successfully transmitted over a fibre distance of more than 410 kilometres between Bristol and Cambridge. This achievement marks the first successful demonstration of a long-distance network that integrates different quantum-secure technologies, such as entanglement distribution, and is a significant step towards building a large-scale quantum internet.
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Why it is important
The demonstration of the UK’s first long-distance quantum network is a significant development in the field of secure communication. Quantum networks offer unparalleled security advantages compared to classical telecommunications solutions, as they are immune to future cyber-attacks, even those posed by quantum computers. This technology has the potential to revolutionise secure communication, making it virtually impossible for data to be intercepted or tampered with. The successful integration of different quantum-secure technologies in this network demonstrates the feasibility of building a large-scale quantum internet.
This could have far-reaching implications for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and government, where secure data transfer is critical. The collaboration between the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), highlights the importance of continued research and development in this area. The results of this project were presented at the 2025 Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC) in San Francisco, further underscoring the global significance of this achievement.
