Quantum Communications
Delivering the future of communications technology
Quantum Networks
Quantum networks transmit and share information exploiting
special quantum properties such as entanglement and quantum measurement to achieve tasks that are not possible when using classical systems.
The Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub is a major UK-wide collaboration aiming to enable secure quantum networking. This will range from localised quantum computing networks through to satellite-based intercontinental communications.
The Hub brings together the expertise of 13 leading UK Universities (Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial, Oxford, Queen’s Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, Strathclyde, Warwick, York, and the lead – Heriot-Watt), the National Physical Laboratory, RAL Space (the UK’s R&D centre for space technology), and over 40 industrial partners to secure the UK’s leadership in quantum communications.
IQN Hub researchers work on addressing the major challenges facing the establishment of a secure “quantum internet”. They are developing globally interlinked, multi-node, next-generation networks and their component parts, which exploit new quantum communications channels designed to coexist with existing telecommunications frameworks.
Working with industry partners, national laboratories, policy makers and community stakeholders, IQN Hub researchers are developing the technologies, protocols and standards which will establish a globally competitive quantum communications industry in the UK and enable the deployment of a secure, scalable, quantum communications infrastructure.
What are we doing in the UK?
The UK National
Quantum Strategy
The UK government has a well developed National Quantum Strategy. One of five quantum missions announced in December 2023 is to ensure that by 2035, there will be accessible, UK-based quantum computers capable of running 1 trillion operations and supporting applications that provide benefits well in excess of classical supercomputers across key sectors of the economy.
The Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub
The Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub aims to enable secure quantum networking, ranging from localised quantum computing networks through to satellite-based intercontinental communications.
The UK National Quantum Technologies Programme
Launched in 2014, and backed by the Government’s £2.5bn National Quantum Strategy, the NQTP builds on a decade of experience to enable the UK to be a leading quantum-enabled economy by 2033, with a world leading sector, where quantum technologies are an integral part of the UK’s future digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing base, driving growth and helping to build a thriving and resilient economy and society
Frequently asked questions
Confused about what quantum communications is all about?
Check out these FAQs...
As with any new technology, there are some concerns regarding the misuse of quantum communications technologies by various hostile actors. However, governments are seeking to mitigate against this by putting in place appropriate regulations regarding import, export and use, analogous to the regulations that already exist for conventional security technologies. It is widely acknowledged that the benefits of these new technologies very much outweigh the risks.
Conventional asymmetric cryptography underpins the world’s public-key infrastructure (PKI) and is very widely used in current cyber security. Unfortunately, it is now known that current PKI could be cracked in the future by quantum computers, and sensitive, conventionally encrypted data, can no longer stay secure. Therefore, new encryption and decryption methods are needed that are not vulnerable to quantum computer attacks. One approach is to utilise cryptographic techniques that are “quantum safe” (safe in a future quantum world where all manner of quantum technologies exist). Then the security of communications is determined by the security of the key distribution mechanism. This is where quantum technology comes in – it provides a secure method of quantum key distribution (QKD).
Quantum Key Distribution is a provably secure method of distributing encryption keys. In QKD, encryption keys are physically distributed using a sequence of quantum light signals, or photons, whose quantum states are each assigned randomly to represent a 0 or a 1. This physical approach means the key cannot be cracked mathematically. It is also impossible to copy or steal the key in transit, since quantum mechanics dictates that any observation will disturb the quantum state – which can be detected by the receiver.
Quantum communications technologies will be integrated within our current communications infrastructure but will not replace it, they will augment existing technologies. Clearly the objective is high-speed, flexible, transparent, user-friendly communications that are secure in a future quantum-enabled world, so quantum and conventional communications technologies will be deployed in combination to provide the best possible solution for this.