Is Europe ready for the quantum internet?

With its unique physical properties, quantum-transmitted data is impossible to eavesdrop on. The EU is at a critical juncture in the development of this groundbreaking technology, with major efforts underway to build the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure. As other regions and countries, such as China, also invest heavily in quantum internet, the question remains whether Europe will continue to drive innovation in the field or risk dependence on others?

While Big Tech and national governments race to build the first fully operational quantum computer, quantum technologies already find practical applications in the field of telecommunications. For example, data can be protected by relying on quantum properties of particles themselves rather than just hiding information behind mathematical codes that could one day be cracked by a quantum computer.

Thanks to these unique physical properties, quantum-encrypted data are virtually impossible to hack, as any attempt at eavesdropping would be notified. To fully unlock the potential of quantum information exchange, however, the classical internet network alone is not enough: a quantum internet must be built.

“The main difference is in the type of information we communicate in this network” explains Stephanie Wehner, Professor of quantum information at Delft University (the Netherlands) and Director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance. “Classical internet sends bits (0s and 1s), while a quantum internet sends quantum bits or qubits, which can be both 0 and 1 at the same time, and have very special properties. For example, we cannot just copy any qubit!”

Stephanie Wehner, Professor of quantum information at Delft University and Director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance: “We have developed the world’s first operating system for quantum networks (QNodeOS) that makes it possible to program quantum network applications and run them on such networks without knowing any physics. As director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance, I work with over 40 partners across Europe towards our mission to create what may become the first prototype quantum internet – interconnecting metropolitan-scale quantum networks via a long-distance backbone.” – Read the full interview with Stephanie Wehner

But this is not the only peculiarity of this strange new world. “Even more intriguingly, qubits can be entangled, meaning they share a special kind of correlation impossible in today’s internet and that defies classical logic,” says Angela Sara Cacciapuoti, co-founder of the Quantum Internet Research Group at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy). “This is what unlocks revolutionary applications, ranging from fundamentally secure communications to linking quantum computers together into a kind of huge quantum super-computer.”

Prof. Angela Sara Cacciapuoti, co-founder of the Quantum Internet Research Group at the University of Naples Federico II and coordinator of the ERC project QNattyNet: “We are envisioning new ways to design and operate the quantum internet for effectively leveraging the unique power of quantum entanglement as the key communication resource, that can be distributed, coordinated, and used reliably across different systems. The ultimate goal is a unified “quantum suite” that can make quantum networks scalable. If successful, this could completely change the way we think about communication and information sharing in the future.” – Read the full interview with Angela Sara Cacciapuoti

In 2019 the European Commission launched the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative: a network designed to enable ultra-secure transmission and storage of information and data, connecting assets across Europe, through both optical fiber and satellites. Currently, this is under development: Member States are working to establish and strengthen cross border links to connect national networks.

For example, Italy’s quantum backbone – an optical fiber running from Turin to Matera – is the second-longest in the world, after the connection between Beijing and Shanghai. From Turin, it passes through the Fréjus tunnel, crosses the Alps, and reaches Paris, extending further to Hanover in Germany and Teddington in the UK. Beyond its link to Europe through the French border, the Italian quantum backbone also aims to expand towards Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece. Other EU countries are developing similar connections.

Although major efforts are underway to build the infrastructure, its use is still in its infancy. “Today, commercially available technology can serve users over short (~100km) distances, limited to secure communication as its only functionality. It is already in use, for example, in the port of Rotterdam,” says Stephanie Wehner.

Challenges

Several scientific and technical challenges must be overcome before qubits can be transmitted over longer distances: “Since qubits behave very differently from classical bits – they cannot be freely copied or measured without changing their states – the Quantum internet requires a completely new design compared to the classical internet, one built around quantum repeaters, quantum memories, and photon channels, to allow long-distance quantum communications,” says Angela Sara Cacciapuoti.

Not only will development be gradual, but societal adoption will be too and this comes with both opportunities and risks: “Initially, the quantum internet will serve specialised sectors that require high levels of security and computational power, such as government agencies, financial institutions, research communities and critical infrastructures,” according to Cacciapuoti. “This could also raise new challenges if access is limited to a few players, creating monopolies or widening the digital divide.”

According to her, “There is also the possibility of a misuse of quantum technologies, for instance by exploiting unbreakable encryption in ways that hinder governance or transparency, much like what we see today with AI. Anticipating these risks by developing ethical and regulatory frameworks, in parallel with the technical progress, is essential to ensure the quantum internet empowers societies as a whole.”

Security implications

Stephanie Wehner highlights another key point: “When thinking about these risks, it’s important to keep in mind that the technology is being built whether we in Europe want it or not. There are large efforts underway, especially in China, to build quantum-secured communication networks, which means the technology will be available to those who want to be untappable. This creates both security implications and a strategic risk if we become dependent on foreign systems.”

Alongside massive public investment, private companies are emerging as key players as well, says Wehner: “Quantum internet development may not be a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’. The EU now faces a critical choice: continue to lead this transformation, or risk becoming dependent on others for this foundational technology,” she adds.

Fortunately, Europe is well placed to succeed in this global competition, thanks above all to its large contributions in fundamental research, says Angela Sara Cacciapuoti. The Quantum Flagship for example received about €1 billion in EU funding and has likely been a key driver of scientific development in Europe.

Cacciapuoti: “While other regions often emphasise short-term prototyping, Europe’s strength lies in its commitment to deep science. But to remain competitive, we must better connect these foundational efforts to scalable technologies, by encouraging tech transfer, investing in training the next generation of quantum experts, and ensuring coordinated infrastructure deployment across countries,” she concludes.