TNO joins European cooperation to develop a global quantum internet enabled from space

The future global quantum internet is blocked by signal loss on fiber optic cables over distance. Satellites are needed so that cities and continents can be connected to eventually become part of the global quantum Internet and fully benefit from its promising applications.

To do this, TNO and the Institute for Computer and Communications Systems (ICCS), along with a consortium of other European partners, join forces on the project LaiQa (Leap in Advancing Space Components important quantum key distribution). This was announced today in Berlin. Kees Buijsrogge, Director of TNO Space: “By combining TNO’s expertise in the field of quantum, classical networks and free space optics with the expertise or our European partners, we are confident that we can develop the space technology to make that happen.”

Thanks to unprecedented computing power, quantum computers will enable new possibilities for innovation. In the coming decades, they are expected to solve some of the biggest challenges facing humanity, such as medical discovery, materials design, and predictive analytics. To exploit its full potential, it is necessary to connect quantum computers and devices worldwide through a quantum internet that uses photons as the carrier of quantum information. Today, however, the advent of a global quantum Internet has been blocked because fiber-based quantum communications are limited to a range of a few hundred kilometers due to distance losses. Therefore, the use of satellites offers a promising solution to overcome limitations at national and continental scales and ultimately create a worldwide quantum Internet.

Quantum internet from space

To enable the quantum Internet from space, the LaiQa project has several goals. First, it will further advance the technical building blocks needed to establish quantum communications. Besides, there is a need to make them suitable for use in space and test their integration in the laboratory and outside, in a setup from free space to long-distance fiber optics. Furthermore, LaiQa aims to develop the necessary key technologies. Specifically, it focuses on three different photon sources, quantum memories suitable for long-distance communications, advanced fiber-matching/adaptive optics systems for communication with satellites and ground stations, and software components to optimize system architecture.

Quantum key distribution

The project will also demonstrate an example of quantum communication, called Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). QKD is considered the first application of the quantum Internet and is an extremely secure way to share encryption keys between remote users. The testing will take place under laboratory conditions, in a ground-based free-space optical trial and finally in a field demonstration using the Greek Helmos optical ground station . LaiQa will also propose technical specifications standards on space components for QKD, to facilitate and promote the implementation of further activities in this field.

European cooperation

Funded by the European Union, the project is expected to start in early 2024 and run for three years. It will be led by the Institute of Computer and Communications Systems (ICCS) from Athens. In addition to TNO, other involved partners are qtlabs – Quantum Technology Laboratories GmbH (Austria), qssys – Quantum Space Systems GmbH (Germany), Athens National Observatory, Eindhoven University of Technology, National and Kapodistrian University Athens and Thales Alenia Space Italy.

More information

News from TNO, TNO Press Office – Maarten Lörtzer, 06-20420732, [email protected].

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