Quantum Internet Alliance: Europe’s Quantum Network Firm
The Quantum Internet Alliance is a major European effort developing an entanglement-based pan-European quantum internet. Building the first full-stack prototype quantum internet network and improving the European quantum internet ecosystem are its key goals. QIA aims to achieve previously unattainable capabilities through quantum communication by connecting quantum computers over long distances.
Quantum Internet Alliance founding and leadership
The Paris Centre for Quantum Computing, ICFO, the University of Innsbruck, QuTech (a partnership between TU Delft and TNO), and other renowned European researchers created QIA in 2017 to foster a sustained European partnership to develop the quantum internet globally For Europe to lead the second quantum revolution, the European Commission created the 10-year EU Quantum Technologies Flagship in 2018 with a 1 billion euro budget. QIA is part of it. Prof. Dr. Stephanie Wehner of QuTech directs the Quantum Internet Alliance, and QuTech is honoured to be its technical coordinator, coordinating outreach and projects.
Technology blueprint and prototype
QIA aims to provide a systematic “Blueprint” for a large-scale quantum internet based on a systems design methodology and deliberate component advances. This requires stretching the limits of technology in quantum repeaters (atomic gases, quantum dots, rare-earth-based memory) and quantum end nodes (trapped ion, diamond NV, and neutral atom qubits). The alliance seeks to achieve entanglement and teleportation over numerous distant quantum network nodes to move from point-to-point connections to multi-node networks by integrating these subsystems for the first time.
A prototype network with two quantum processor-based metropolitan-scale networks connected by a quantum repeater-based long-distance fibre backbone is the goal. Because it's completely programmable, this network can be utilised to construct many applications utilising platform-independent software. First phase of enormous project began in October 2022 and costs 24 million euros. The program lasts seven years.
Important innovations and developments
QIA has made remarkable strides; the Project Management Institute designated its H2020 FET-FLAGSHIP project (October 2018–March 2022) one of the world's top 5 most influential technology projects in 2021. Notable technological advances include:
Entanglement between diamond processors not directly coupled through a centre node in the first three-node quantum processor network.
The first quantum software and network stack were merged and tested on a multi-node network using QNodeOS, enabling platform-independent application creation.
An simple, cutting-edge quantum repeater link will enable long-distance quantum communication by announcing rare-earth ion quantum memory entanglement at telecom frequencies.
A discrete event simulator, NetSquid, was used to simulate and optimise quantum network needs on genuine fibre networks. Creating high-resolution FPGA-based time-to-digital converters (Swabian Instruments), an external cavity diode laser (TOPTICA), and a processed CVD diamond material (ElementSIX) for commercial use beyond quantum communication.
QIA also achieved record quantum memory efficiency in cold atom-based memories, a quantum logic gate between distant neutral atom nodes, and campus-wide Ion Trap processor entanglement.
Creating a Quantum Internet Ecosystem
Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) promotes a creative European quantum internet environment beyond technical breakthroughs. This includes helping European startups like WeLinQ and Q*Bird launch QIA technologies. The alliance provides the community with the Quantum Network Explorer (QNE), a web platform for constructing application software on QIAs and other hardware platforms, and the Quantum Protocol Zoo, which comprises various application protocols.
QIA co-founded and leads the Quantum Internet Research Group within the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), a leading classical networking standards group, to develop quantum internet standards. They work with CEN-CENELEC and other standardising bodies. The alliance aims to turn quantum internet technologies into industry-relevant use cases for finance and telecoms. QIA will provide open forums, workshops, and hackathons to promote this technology.
Cooperation and Future
QIA has 40 partners from nine countries, including academic institutions, telecom operators, system integrators, and quantum technology entrepreneurs. They believe a “team effort” is needed to establish the quantum internet and realise its benefits for society.
Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) wants to grow its operations and technology across the EU. With professional alternatives and an internship program for students, engineers, and entrepreneurs, they aggressively recruit talented people from theoretical and experimental physics, computer science, and electrical engineering. To make quantum internet innovation accessible to all, basic research must be accelerated to technical solutions.