Recent Breakthroughs Propel Quantum Communication Forward
Chinese scientists have announced a series of groundbreaking achievements in long-distance quantum communications, marking critical steps toward the realization of a global quantum internet. These developments encompass satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD), advanced terrestrial networks, and innovative methods for secure direct communication, positioning China at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
Expanding the Reach of Satellite Quantum Links
A cornerstone of China's quantum communication strategy has been its pioneering work with satellites. The Micius quantum satellite, launched in August 2016, was the world's first of its kind, enabling quantum key distribution and entanglement distribution over vast distances. Building on this success, an international research team led by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) established the world's longest intercontinental quantum satellite link in March 2025. This remarkable feat connected Beijing, China, with Stellenbosch, South Africa, spanning over 12,900 kilometers and utilizing the quantum microsatellite Jinan-1.
Furthermore, in January 2021, Chinese scientists successfully created the world's first integrated space-to-ground quantum network. This extensive network provides ultrasecure communication for over 150 users across a total distance of 4,600 kilometers, integrating 700 kilometers of ground-based optical fibers with two ground-to-satellite links.
Innovations in Terrestrial Quantum Networks
Beyond satellite communications, Chinese researchers have also made significant progress in ground-based quantum networks. In June 2025, a team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University achieved a new record in quantum secure direct communication (QSDC), establishing a network spanning 300 kilometers. This achievement tripled the previous distance record for multi-user QSDC networks. Earlier, in February 2025, another team set a transmission record for a quasi-QSDC protocol, achieving 2.38 kilobits per second (kbps) over 104.8 kilometers of standard optical fiber.
More recently, in February 2026, a team led by Professor Jian-Wei Pan from USTC and CAS achieved device-independent quantum key distribution (DI-QKD) over 100 kilometers. This breakthrough, published in Nature and Science, is considered a critical building block for scalable quantum repeaters and the future quantum internet, demonstrating memory-memory entanglement between two nodes. Concurrently, in February 2026, scientists led by Professor Wang Jianwei from Peking University and Academician Gong Qihuang unveiled the world's first large-scale QKD network based on integrated photonic quantum chips. This network supports parallel communication among 20 users and can span distances of up to 3,700 kilometers, offering a practical solution for building extensive quantum communication chip networks.
Paving the Way for a Global Quantum Internet
These advancements underscore China's strategic commitment to quantum technology, with Professor Jian-Wei Pan often cited as a leading figure in these efforts. The development of robust long-distance quantum communication methods is crucial for creating an unhackable global communication infrastructure. By leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics, such as entanglement and the no-cloning theorem, these networks promise unprecedented levels of security, where any attempt at eavesdropping would inherently alter the quantum state and be immediately detectable. China's sustained investment and rapid progress are setting the stage for a future quantum internet, with plans to further expand its quantum network and collaborate internationally.
0 Comments