Europe Builds a Secure Quantum Internet

The European Commission has allocated €47.5 million to the Quantum Internet Alliance consortium for the creation of a full-scale quantum internet prototype. The project is designed for 42 months and represents the second phase of the program, with the first phase concluding in March 2026.

A quantum network transmits not ordinary bits, but quantum states. Any attempt at interception destroys these states, making eavesdropping immediately detectable to users.

Key tasks for this new phase include:

• Integrating all components into a unified, complete quantum network stack
• Connecting two urban networks via an inter-city fiber-optic line using quantum repeaters
• Ensuring network programmability to launch specialized applications
• Preparing pilot sites with open access for testing

Quantum repeaters are the key element of the project. Without them, signals cannot travel long distances, limiting network operation to within a single city.

Currently, a technology prototype is being developed, not a replacement for home routers. Government agencies and the banking sector are likely to be the first to adopt communication protected against silent eavesdropping.