The Quantum Internet and Quantum Networks Explained
What a quantum network does
A normal network moves bits. A quantum network moves quantum states, often carried by single photons through optical fiber or free space. Its goal is to distribute entanglement between distant locations.
Why not just copy the signal
An unknown quantum state cannot be perfectly copied, a rule known as the no-cloning theorem. This blocks the usual way of boosting a signal. It is also what makes some quantum communication secure, since eavesdropping disturbs the state.
Quantum repeaters
Photons get lost in fiber over long distances. Quantum repeaters are devices designed to extend range by swapping entanglement along a chain of links, without copying the state. Building practical repeaters is an active research problem.
What it could be used for
- Secure key exchange: see quantum key distribution.
- Linking quantum computers: joining small machines into a larger shared system.
- Precision sensing and clock sharing: an area researchers are exploring.
Status and limits
Experimental networks and satellite links have been demonstrated by research groups, but a global quantum internet is a long term goal. It is separate from post-quantum cryptography, which upgrades normal software instead of building new hardware networks.
Crypto angle
Blockchains such as Solana do not run on quantum networks. The quantum theme around QUANTUM (QNT) is cultural, not technical.
Milestones so far
- 2017, satellite entanglement: a Chinese team using the Micius satellite reported distributing entangled photon pairs to ground stations about 1,200 km apart, in a result published in Science. Earlier free-space records were about 100 km.
- 2021, a three node network: researchers at QuTech in Delft linked three quantum nodes based on diamond defects, with entanglement between them and teleportation between non-neighboring nodes. The nodes were in a lab, not spread across a city.
The main parts of a quantum network
| Part | Job | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Photon sources | Make entangled photons | Mature in labs |
| Quantum memory | Store a quantum state while waiting for others to link up | Active research |
| Quantum repeater | Extend range by swapping entanglement | Early demonstrations |
| Quantum transducer | Convert between microwave qubits and optical photons | Hard research problem |
Transducers matter because superconducting quantum computers work with microwaves, but long distance links use light. See repeaters and quantum memory.
Common mistakes
- Thinking entanglement sends messages faster than light. It does not. You still need an ordinary channel to make sense of the results.
- Mixing up QKD and post-quantum cryptography. They solve related problems in different ways. See QKD vs post-quantum cryptography.
- Assuming a quantum network is unhackable. Real devices can have side channel flaws, even if the physics is sound.
What is changing in 2026
Government and company programs continue to build testbeds and satellite links. See satellite quantum key distribution. Meanwhile, standards bodies have favored software upgrades for most security needs. NIST published its first post-quantum standards on 13 August 2024 and urged organizations to start adopting them without waiting for more. That works on today's internet with no new fiber.
How to check this yourself
When a story announces a quantum network, ask the distance, the number of nodes, whether entanglement was actually distributed or only keys, and whether it ran outside a lab.
Sources and further reading
- Physics Today: satellite distributed entanglement (Micius, 2017)
- QuTech: multinode quantum network, Hanson lab
- NIST: first three finalized post-quantum standards, 13 August 2024
Checked 2026-10-09. Research and standards change often, so check the primary documents. Nothing here is financial advice. The QNT memecoin is independent of Quantinuum Ltd, the real company, and of every lab, company and standards body named on this page.
Frequently asked questions
Will the quantum internet replace the internet?
No. It is expected to complement the normal internet for special tasks, not carry everyday web traffic.
What is a quantum repeater?
It is a device meant to extend quantum links by passing on entanglement in steps, since quantum signals cannot simply be copied and amplified.
Is the quantum internet the same as QKD?
No. Quantum key distribution is one application. A quantum internet is a broader network for quantum information.
Does the quantum internet exist today?
Only as small experiments and test networks. A large public one does not exist yet.
Has anyone teleported data across a city?
Experiments have teleported quantum states over fiber and free space in research settings. Teleportation moves a quantum state, not matter, and needs a classical signal.
What is a quantum transducer?
It is a device that converts between microwave signals used by some qubits and optical photons used in fiber.
Is the quantum internet needed for post-quantum security?
No. Post-quantum cryptography runs on normal networks. See post-quantum cryptography.
Who is building it?
University labs, national programs and companies are all involved. Check each project's own reports for the latest status.
Keep reading
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Explained vs Post-Quantum Cryptography
QKD uses quantum physics to share encryption keys. Learn how it works, its limits, and how it differs from post-quantum cryptography. - Quantum Entanglement Explained Simply
Entanglement links qubits so they share a joint state. Learn what it is, what it is not, and why quantum computers use it. - Post-Quantum Cryptography and Crypto: What It Means
Why large quantum computers could threaten blockchain signatures, and what post-quantum cryptography is doing about it. - Quantum Sensing Explained
What is quantum sensing? Learn how quantum sensors measure time, motion, gravity and magnetic fields with great precision, and where they are used.
All Quantum computing guides | Back to top | Search the site
Main pages: Quantum computing explained | Quantum and crypto | Companies | Quantum news | Glossary