UK quantum networking hub left behind
The UK has opened a £42m (€55m, $57m) hub for quantum networking technologies to create the quantum Internet. Although the UK leads in this technology, it is being left behind in the race to commercialisation, despite recently demonstrating the first quantum network video call.
The hub is led by Heriot-Watt University and supported by over £42M of EPSRC funding and industry contributions, with the expertise of a further 12 leading UK universities (Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Imperial, Oxford, Queen’s Belfast, Sheffield, Southampton, Strathclyde, Warwick and York), two national laboratories – the National Physical Laboratory and STFC RAL Space – and over 40 industrial partners to secure the UK’s leadership in quantum secure communications.
Quantum networks enable the transmission and sharing of quantum information by harnessing entanglement and quantum measurement in fibre optic cables. This provides more secure networks, with secure quantum key distribution, and can potentially integrate directly with certain types of quantum computer that are also based on photonics.
The Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub is working to develop scalable, practical quantum networks, from local links between quantum processors to national entanglement infrastructure and intercontinental satellite-based communications.
This is very well meaning, and the UK government’s goal is that by 2035, the UK will have deployed the world’s most advanced quantum network infrastructure.
“The Integrated Quantum Networks Hub is building on the UK’s enormous strengths in quantum research and combines our world-class academic base with leading industry partners from across the telecommunications, space, security and quantum technology sectors. We have a hugely ambitious vision to establish UK leadership in quantum networking however, through this Hub, we have assembled an extraordinary partnership to help deliver this,” said Professor Gerald Buller at Heriot-Watt University, the IQN Hub Leader
The problem is that the rest of the world is moving faster, and the financing is currently available not there for scaling up for commercialisation. Waiting to prove out the technology before the funding can be considered is the way the UK has lost all kinds of innovative technologies, from liquid crystal and OLED displays to solar panels.
Quantum computing developer IonQ has also been moving heavily into quantum networking with the acquisition of the assets of Qubitekk, and the US is racing to commercialise the technology: US project shows path to commercial quantum networks
The industrial partners in the UK network include BT, which has worked with Toshiba on the first implementation of a secure quantum network in Bristol back in 2020 but has been slow to spin out startups, and mobile operator Vodafone.
The more worrying aspect is US companies such as Zayo, Honeywell, Coherent, Ciena and IonQ that are also involved. Even some nominally UK companies such as quantum satellite operator Arqit are actually domiciled in the Caribbean, and Nokia Bell Labs are also US based. US networking giant Cisco was a key partner in the video call project.
To support the growing quantum ecosystem, researchers are also working on essential technologies like quantum light sources, detectors and switches, while contributing to the development of future security standards that will help shape the industry as it scales.
“Quantum networks go far beyond Quantum Key Distribution and we are excited to see research leading towards the ultimate promise of quantum connections between quantum computers,” said Andrew Lord, Head of Optical Network Research at BT.
The hub does at least include key quantum computer makers OQC and Orca Computing as well as well funded startup PsiQuantum (a US spinout from Bristol and Imperial),
The IQN Hub is part of a network of five quantum technology hubs with a £106 million investment.
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