Advances in the global quantum secure communication networks

doi:10.12267/j.issn.2096-5931.2025.07.006

Abstract

Abstract:

The quantum technology is rapidly developing, with applications nearing maturity and global competition intensifying. It has now reached a pivotal stage of accelerated progress and industrial expansion. Quantum communication networks are infrastructure based on quantum key distribution technology, which can address the information security threats posed by quantum computing. By comparing the strategies and advancements of major economies, including terrestrial quantum networks and quantum satellites, this paper provides recommendations for enhancing capabilities of quantum communication networks.

Key words: quantum secure communication network, quantum key distribution, information security

CLC Number:

TN918

ZHANG Jianxiao, LUO Qiming, WU Chang. Advances in the global quantum secure communication networks[J]. Information and Communications Technology and Policy, 2025, 51(7): 43-53.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL:

http://ictp.caict.ac.cn/EN/10.12267/j.issn.2096-5931.2025.07.006

http://ictp.caict.ac.cn/EN/Y2025/V51/I7/43

Figures/Tables 10

References 50

[1]	RENNER R, GISIN N, KRAUS B. Information-theoretic security proof for quantum-key-distribution protocols[J]. Physical Review A: Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 2005, 72(1): 012332.
[2]	TAMAKI K, LO H K, WANG W, et al. Information theoretic security of quantum key distribution overcoming the repeaterless secret key capacity bound[J]. arXiv Preprint, arXiv:1805.05511, 2018.
[3]	LI G, LUO H, YU J, et al. Information-theoretic secure key sharing for wide-area mobile applications[J]. IEEE Wireless Communications, 2023, 31(1): 118-124.
[4]	KYRLYNN D. The Q-Day threat. what happens when our data is no longer secure?[EB/OL]. (2024-11-08)[2025-05-10]. https://quantumzeitgeist.com/the-q-day-threat-what-happens-when-our-data-is-no-longer-secure/.
[5]	CHEN T Y, JIANG X, TANG S B, et al. Implementation of a 46-node quantum metropolitan area network[J]. NPJ Quantum Information, 2021, 7(1): 134.
[6]	朱宏峰, 陈柳伊, 王学颖, 等. 量子密钥分发网络架构、进展及应用[J]. 沈阳师范大学学报(自然科学版), 2023, 41(6):515-525.
[7]	CAO Y, ZHAO Y, COLMAN-MEIXNER C, et al. Key on demand (KoD) for software-defined optical networks secured by quantum key distribution (QKD)[J]. Optics Express, 2017, 25(22): 26453-26467. doi: 10.1364/OE.25.026453 pmid: 29092135
[8]	LIAO S K, CAI W Q, LIU W Y, et al. Satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution[J]. Nature, 2017, 549: 43-47.
[9]	LI Y, CAI W Q, REN J G, et al. Microsatellite-based real-time quantum key distribution[J]. Nature, 2025: 1-8.
[10]	Marketsand Markets. Quantum communication market:global forecast to 2030[EB/OL]. 2024[2025-05-10]. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/quantum-communication-market-143942501.html.
[11]	Chicago Quantum Exchange. Chicago expands and activates quantum network, taking steps toward a secure quantum internet[EB/OL]. (2022-06-16)[2025-05-10]. https://chicagoquantum.org/news/chicago-expands-and-activates-quantum-network-taking-steps-toward-secure-quantum-internet.
[12]	Oak Ridge National Laboratory. ORNL partnership with EPB tests new method for protecting quantum networks[EB/OL]. 2025[2025-05-12]. https://www.ornl.gov/news/ornl-partnership-epb-tests-new-method-protecting-quantum-networks.
[13]	WONFOR A, WHITE C, LORD A, et al. Quantum networks in the UK[C]// Metro and Data Center Optical Networks and Short-Reach Links IV. SPIE, 2021, 11712: 9-19.
[14]	NQSN. About NQSN[EB/OL]. [2025-05-10].https://www.nqsn.sg/.
[15]	IDQ. Nation-wide quantum safe key distribution network in South Korea[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://www.idquantique.com/quantum-safe-security/nation-wide-quantum-safe-key-distribution-network-in-south-korea/.
[16]	EuroQCI Spain. EuroQCI Spain at quantum communications networks in Aveiro, Portugal[EB/OL]. 2024[2025-05-12]. https://euroqci-spain.eu/quantum-communications-networks-portugal/.
[17]	Quantum Delta NL. Deployment of the first national quantum networks in the Netherlands[EB/OL]. 2023[2025-05-12]. https://quantumdelta.nl/qcined.
[18]	QCI-CAT. Making Austria quantum secure[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://qci-cat.at/.
[19]	BGQCI. Bulgarian national quantum communication infrastructure[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://euroqci.bg/.
[20]	LU C Y, CAO Y, PENG C Z, et al. Micius quantum experiments in space[J]. Reviews of Modern Physics, 2022, 94(3): 035001.
[21]	BAI X, BEDINGTON R, ILANGOVAN K, et al. Validating an entangled photon light source in space with the SpooQy-1 CubeSat[C]// The 32nd Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites. Utah, USA, 2018.
[22]	SULTANA N, KRYNSKI J, LIM J G, et al. CubeSat single-photon detector module for performing in-orbit laser annealing to heal radiation damage[C]// The 36th Annual Small Satellite Conference. Utah, USA, 2022.
[23]	ELSNER L, PETERMANN T, VONARNIM M, et al. Pre-flight verification of the CubeSat attitude control system for the QUBE mission[C]// Small Satellites Systems and Services Symposium (4S 2024). SPIE, 2025, 13546: 1793-1803.
[24]	Speqtral. Pioneers of space-based quantum communication[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://speqtralquantum.com/technology/satellite-qkd.
[25]	DLR Portal. QUBE-II: quantum key distribution with CubeSat[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://www.dlr.de/en/kn/research-transfer/projects/qkd-quantum-technology-for-secure-communication/qube-ii-quantum-key-distribution-with-cubesat.
[26]	European Space Agency. Eagle-1[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Eagle-1.
[27]	徐海涛, 陈诺. 跨半球连亚非!中国首次实现上万公里星地量子通信[EB/OL]. (2025-03-20)[2025-05-12]. https://www.cas.cn/cm/202503/t20250320_5059370.shtml.
[28]	Canadian Space Agency. Quantum encryption and science satellite (QEYSSat)[EB/OL]. [2025-05-12]. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/qeyssat.asp.
[29]	TIAN X H, YANG R, LIU H Y, et al. Experimental demonstration of drone-based quantum key distribution[J]. Physical Review Letters, 2024, 133(20): 200801.
[30]	LIU Y, ZHANG W J, JIANG C, et al. Experimental twin-field quantum key distribution over 1 000 km fiber distance[J]. Physical Review Letters, 2023, 130(21): 210801.
[31]	LI W, ZHANG L, TAN H, et al. High-rate quantum key distribution exceeding 110 Mb s-1[J]. Nature Photonics, 2023, 17(5): 416-421.
[32]	ZHANG L, LI W, PAN J, et al. Experimental mode-pairing quantum key distribution surpassing the repeaterless bound[J]. Physical Review X, 2025, 15(2): 021037.
[33]	郝俊慧. 今年底,超十座头部城市将建成量子城域网[EB/OL]. (2024-10-10)[2025-05-12]. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/53vx9S2IpnvClKg3fvkxpQ.
[34]	中电信量子. 我国量子密码技术实现双重抗量子新突破[EB/OL]. (2025-05-16)[2025-05-18]. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iSWzqccEVg9c199pYyYcoA.
[35]	REN J G, XU P, YONG H L, et al. Ground-to-satellite quantum teleportation[J]. Nature, 2017, 549(7670): 70-73.
[36]	CHEN Y A, ZHANG Q, CHEN T Y, et al. An integrated space-to-ground quantum communication network over 4 600 kilometres[J]. Nature, 2021, 589(7841): 214-219.
[37]	GYONGYOSI L, IMRE S. Advances in the quantum internet[J]. Communications of the ACM, 2022, 65(8): 52-63.
[38]	Global Quantum Intelligence. The European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI)[EB/OL]. (2024-09-19)[2025-05-18]. https://quantumcomputingreport.com/the-european-quantum-communication-infrastructure-euroqci/.
[39]	IMDA. National quantum safe network plus[EB/OL]. (2025-04-17)[2025-05-18]. https://www.imda.gov.sg/about-imda/emerging-technologies-and-research/national-quantum-safe-network-plus.
[40]	QIN H, HAW J Y, DUAN X, et al. The national quantum-safe network in Singapore[C]// The 49th European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC 2023). IET, 2023: 1294-1297.
[41]	ELLIOTT C, COLVIN A, PEARSON D, et al. Current status of the DARPA quantum network[C]// Quantum Information and Computation III. SPIE, 2005, 5815: 138-149.
[42]	Quantum Xchange. Quantum Xchange to build first quantum network in U.S. offering “unbreakable encryption”[EB/OL]. (2018-06-26)[2025-05-18]. https://quantumxc.com/media-coverage/quantum-xchange-to-build-first-quantum-network-in-us-offering-unbreakable-encryption/.
[43]	中国科学院科技战略咨询研究院. 美国DARPA启动量子增强网络计划[EB/OL]. (2023-11-20)[2025-05-18]. http://www.casisd.cn/zkcg/ydkb/kjqykb/2023/kjqykb2308/202311/t20231120_6934975.html.
[44]	The U.S Department of Energy. Report of the DOE Quantum Internet Blueprint Workshop[EB/OL]. (2020-02-05)[2025-05-18]. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/07/f76/QuantumWkshpRpt20FINAL_Nav_0.pdf.
[45]	LIU J L, LUO X Y, YU Y, et al. Creation of memory-memory entanglement in a metropolitan quantum network[J]. Nature, 2024, 629(8012): 579-585.
[46]	Boeing. Q4S[EB/OL]. [2025-05-18]. https://www.boeing.com/quantum#introduction.
[47]	National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. Quantum networking: findings and recommendations for growing American leadership[EB/OL]. 2024[2025-05-18]. https://www.quantum.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/NQIAC-Report-Quantum-Networking.pdf.
[48]	Government of Canada. Canada’s national quantum strategy[EB/OL]. (2024-12-03)[2025-05-18]. https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/national-quantum-strategy/en/canadas-national-quantum-strategy.
[49]	Government of Canada. Overview of quantum 2030[EB/OL]. (2023-03-27)[2025-05-18]. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/overview-quantum-2030.html.
[50]	JENNEWEIN T, SIMON C, FOUGÈRES A, et al. QEYSSat 2.0: white paper on satellite-based quantum communication missions in Canada[J]. Canadian Journal of Physics, 2024, 103(4): 328-376.

网络名称	年份	国家和地区	主要建设内容
美国芝加哥城域量子网络	2022	美国芝加哥	芝加哥量子交易所和东芝公司共建,由6个节点和200 km的光纤组成
美国查塔努加电力局(Electric Power Board, EPB)量子网络	2022	美国查塔努加	美国EPB和美国Qubitekk公司共建,由10个节点组成
英国	2021	英国	光纤总长410 km,包括3个节点,2025年4月成功演示了长距离量子安全数据传输
新加坡国家量子安全网络	2022	新加坡	由新加坡政府和企业共建,共计10个节点,当前尚为测试平台,正推进商用化的NQSN+计划
韩国国家QKD网络	2022	韩国	韩国运营商SK和瑞士ID Quantique(IDQ)公司合作共建,网络里程数达到800 km,节点数超过48个
西班牙EuroQCI项目	2024	西班牙	建设以马德里和巴塞罗那为主干线的国家量子保密通信网络
荷兰QCINed项目	2023	荷兰	在乌特勒支、阿姆斯特丹、埃因霍温各部署一个量子保密通信网络,由12个节点组成,里程数约100 km
奥地利QCI-CAT项目	2024	奥地利	由10个节点组成,里程数超过200 km
保加利亚BGQCI项目	2023	保加利亚索非亚	在首都索非亚部署一个链接内政部、交通部、国防部、DSK银行的量子网络

网络名称	年份	国家和地区	主要建设内容
美国芝加哥城域量子网络	2022	美国芝加哥	芝加哥量子交易所和东芝公司共建,由6个节点和200 km的光纤组成
美国查塔努加电力局(Electric Power Board, EPB)量子网络	2022	美国查塔努加	美国EPB和美国Qubitekk公司共建,由10个节点组成
英国	2021	英国	光纤总长410 km,包括3个节点,2025年4月成功演示了长距离量子安全数据传输
新加坡国家量子安全网络	2022	新加坡	由新加坡政府和企业共建,共计10个节点,当前尚为测试平台,正推进商用化的NQSN+计划
韩国国家QKD网络	2022	韩国	韩国运营商SK和瑞士ID Quantique(IDQ)公司合作共建,网络里程数达到800 km,节点数超过48个
西班牙EuroQCI项目	2024	西班牙	建设以马德里和巴塞罗那为主干线的国家量子保密通信网络
荷兰QCINed项目	2023	荷兰	在乌特勒支、阿姆斯特丹、埃因霍温各部署一个量子保密通信网络,由12个节点组成,里程数约100 km
奥地利QCI-CAT项目	2024	奥地利	由10个节点组成,里程数超过200 km
保加利亚BGQCI项目	2023	保加利亚索非亚	在首都索非亚部署一个链接内政部、交通部、国防部、DSK银行的量子网络

发射时间	名称	规格	国家和地区
2016年8月	墨子号	640 kg	中国
2019年6月	SpooQy-1	3 U	新加坡、英国、瑞士
2021年8月	CAPsat	2.8 kg	美国
2022年7月	济南一号	98 kg	中国
2024年8月	Qube	3.5 kg	德国
计划2025年发射	SpeQtre	12 U	英国、新加坡
计划2025年发射	Qube-2	6 U	德国
计划2025年发射	EAGLE-1	300 kg	欧盟
计划2026年发射	多颗微纳卫星	—	中国
计划2026年发射	QEYSSat	23 kg	加拿大、英国
计划2026年发射	SpeQtral-1	16 U	新加坡

发射时间	名称	规格	国家和地区
2016年8月	墨子号	640 kg	中国
2019年6月	SpooQy-1	3 U	新加坡、英国、瑞士
2021年8月	CAPsat	2.8 kg	美国
2022年7月	济南一号	98 kg	中国
2024年8月	Qube	3.5 kg	德国
计划2025年发射	SpeQtre	12 U	英国、新加坡
计划2025年发射	Qube-2	6 U	德国
计划2025年发射	EAGLE-1	300 kg	欧盟
计划2026年发射	多颗微纳卫星	—	中国
计划2026年发射	QEYSSat	23 kg	加拿大、英国
计划2026年发射	SpeQtral-1	16 U	新加坡