• Northwestern University successfully teleported a particle through 18 miles of public internet infrastructure, proving quantum data can coexist with regular internet traffic.
• German scientists achieved quantum communication across 150 miles of existing commercial fiber optic lines, setting a new distance record for quantum key distribution without specialized cooling.
• RIT and the University of Rochester established an 11-mile quantum communications network using optical fibers, marking a step towards secure and scalable quantum communication.

Recent scientific advancements have marked significant progress in quantum communication. Researchers at Northwestern University achieved quantum teleportation over public internet infrastructure, while German scientists demonstrated quantum communications across long distances using existing telecom infrastructure. Additionally, RIT and the University of Rochester established a quantum communications network. These achievements address critical challenges in making quantum communication practical and scalable, paving the way for future quantum internet applications.

• What: Quantum teleportation and long-distance quantum communication breakthroughs.
• Who: Northwestern University, German scientists, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), University of Rochester.
• When: Recent findings published in Optica and Nature (reported in April).
• Where: Northwestern University (USA), Germany (Frankfurt, Kehl, Kirchfeld), Rochester (USA).

These breakthroughs represent significant steps towards practical quantum communication and the development of a quantum internet. The Northwestern experiment demonstrates that quantum data can coexist with regular internet traffic, challenging previous assumptions. The German experiment shows the feasibility of long-distance quantum key distribution without specialized cooling, reducing infrastructure costs. The RIT and University of Rochester project focuses on integrating different qubit types within a unified network, highlighting the importance of versatile quantum communication systems. All three projects point toward a future where quantum communication is more accessible and integrated into existing networks.

Quantum particles can be at either end of the universe and they’ll still be completely, perfectly correlated. These experiments have been done using bulk optics and huge telescopes. We’re trying to put all of that onto a single microchip.

While other groups have developed experimental quantum networks, RoQNET is unique in its use of integrated quantum photonic chips for quantum light generation and solid-state-based quantum memory nodes

Recent breakthroughs in quantum teleportation and long-distance quantum communication are accelerating the development of a quantum internet, offering secure and efficient quantum information transfer over existing infrastructure. These advancements have major implications for cryptography, enabling quantum key distribution (QKD) to protect sensitive data from quantum hacking, as well as for distributed quantum computing, and various sensing applications. Overcoming challenges such as maintaining the stability of qubits, scaling quantum processors, and integrating quantum systems with classical networks are critical steps. Initiatives like the European Commission's EuroQCI and the Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) are working to establish quantum communication networks across Europe, with the goal of creating secure quantum links between major cities. Companies like Cisco are developing quantum networking chips and infrastructure to address scalability limitations and facilitate the creation of distributed quantum data centers. As the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, efforts are focused on raising public awareness, fostering global collaboration, and building a skilled quantum workforce. The development of quantum network operating systems, such as QNodeOS, is also lowering barriers for developers and enabling the creation of quantum network applications. While challenges remain, these achievements represent significant progress toward realizing the transformative potential of quantum technologies in the near future.