New breakthrough sees researchers send a quantum radio signal over tens of kilometers
Quantum communication networks are seen as the future gold standard of unhackable communications networks and now they're functioning over greater distances.
Key takeaways
- The study is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
- The scientists thus demonstrated the transfer of quantum information over a 50-kilometer-long optical fiber, with the quantum repeater placed exactly halfway between starting and end point.
- The researchers were also able to calculate which improvements of this design would be necessary to make transmission over 800 kilometers possible, which would allow them to connect Innsbruck to Vienna.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2023) 'New breakthrough sees researchers send a quantum radio signal over tens of kilometers', 311 Institute, 3 June. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/new-breakthrough-sees-researchers-send-a-quantum-radio-signal-over-tens-of-kilometers/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As we continue to see breakthrough after breakthrough in quantum technologies we have to remember that many of the things we’re witnessing today have their origins in the deep past. A quarter century ago, theoretical physicists at the University of Innsbruck made the first proposal on how to transmit quantum information via quantum repeaters over long distances, which would open the door to the construction of a worldwide quantum information network.
Now, a new generation of Innsbruck researchers has built a quantum repeater node for the standard wavelength of telecommunication networks and transmitted quantum information over tens of kilometers which opens the door for global scale quantum communications networks that will be largely unhackable. The study is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
The Future of Communications, by keynote Matthew Griffin
Quantum networks connect quantum processors or quantum sensors with each other. This allows tap-proof communication and high-performance distributed sensor networks. Between network nodes, quantum information is exchanged by photons that travel through optical waveguides. Over long distances, however, the likelihood of photons being lost increases dramatically.
As quantum information cannot simply be copied and amplified, 25 years ago Hans Briegel, Wolfgang Dür, Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller, then all at the University of Innsbruck, provided the blueprints for a quantum repeater. These featured light-matter entanglement sources and memories to create entanglement in independent network links that are connected between them by a so-called entanglement swap to finally distribute entanglement over long distances.
Quantum physicists led by Ben Lanyon from the Department of Experimental Physics at the University of Innsbruck have now succeeded in building the core parts of a quantum repeater, a fully functioning network node made with two single matter systems enabling entanglement creation with a photon at the standard frequency of the telecommunications network and entanglement swapping operations.
The repeater node consists of two calcium ions captured in an ion trap within an optical resonator as well as single photon conversion to the telecom wavelength. The scientists thus demonstrated the transfer of quantum information over a 50-kilometer-long optical fiber, with the quantum repeater placed exactly halfway between starting and end point.
The researchers were also able to calculate which improvements of this design would be necessary to make transmission over 800 kilometers possible, which would allow them to connect Innsbruck to Vienna.
What this means for your organisation
Distance is the hard problem.
Photons are lost far more often over long distances, and quantum information cannot simply be copied or amplified. The Innsbruck node sat exactly halfway along a 50-kilometre fibre and still passed quantum information across. That is the core job a repeater must do.
Plan in stages, not at once.
311 data rates quantum repeaters at readiness level 3, with wide use around 2045 and an action of Watch. Quantum memory is further along, with wide use around 2036. The researchers also worked out which improvements would reach 800 kilometres, enough to link Innsbruck to Vienna.
Security teams should start mapping now.
Quantum networks promise tap-proof communication and distributed sensor networks. Quantum secure direct communication, which sends the message itself over a quantum link, is placed at around 2050 in 311 data. Leaders should know which of their data needs protection over that horizon.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our data must stay secret beyond 2045?
- Who in our business owns the quantum networking watch brief?
- What would a tap-proof link change for our most sensitive communications?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Quantum communication networks are seen as the future gold standard of unhackable communications networks and now they're functioning over greater distances.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Quantum+information phys.org
- provided the blueprints for a quantum repeater doi.org
- Entanglement phys.org
- Calcium+ions phys.org
- Optical+fiber phys.org
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 3 June 2023. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2023). New breakthrough sees researchers send a quantum radio signal over tens of kilometers. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/new-breakthrough-sees-researchers-send-a-quantum-radio-signal-over-tens-of-kilometers/
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