Quantum network offers 'safe haven' for countries' data

ANKARA

States will prefer to use quantum network technology that offers a "safe haven" to secure their data from hackers globally, according to a Turkish social media expert.

"Data flow in the quantum network cannot be copied, fragmented, or changed but can be destroyed. In this way, states aim to develop a quantum internet network, which is completely not hackable," Deniz Unay told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

The project, carried out by the US Department of Energy for nearly 10 years, is aimed to provide "superior protection" for a secure data flow, he said. "For this system, which depends on quantum mechanics, some important prototypes have been developed."

The Department of Energy plans to use the quantum network to transfer the existing internet and local network usage to quantum internet, also known as the second internet, within the next 10 years, he said.

He shared that with 70 participants from different sectors, the Department established laboratories at 17 locations across the country to form the system's backbone.

Citing Paul Kearns, director of the Argonne National Laboratory, Unay said quantum internet is considered the biggest technological development of the 21st century.

Studies are being conducted within the scope of Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Recently, the quantum internet network has also started to operate, covering an area of 130 kilometers.

Usage of quantum internet technology across the globe

As part of the plan, studies for the development and dissemination of the quantum internet network in various technology universities in the US began a few years ago, Unay recalled.

Saying that currently 83 kilometers of quantum internet usage is being tested in Chicago suburbs, he said tech giants such as Google continue to work to reach the quantum internet infrastructure.

Besides the US, EU countries and China have started working on quantum internet technology, Unay said, adding: "Last year, a quantum satellite was launched by China."

The satellite is used to send pieces of information encoded with the sensitive photons of infrared light. In this way, a much safer data flow than existing transfer systems is provided.

Unay said China is slated to spread quantum communication technology to more than one country by 2030 to make the quantum internet more common.

Through the Quantum Internet Alliance, the EU aims to build the quantum internet in EU countries within 15 years. The internet network will first be used by the state, and later offered to the public, he said.

What is quantum mechanics?

Quantum mechanics, which emerged in the early 1900s, is used for tools such as highly precise clocks, quantum computers using quantum bits, and high-end microscopes.

"According to research, the biggest difference between today's internet and quantum internet is that quantum internet provides more bandwidth," the expert said.

He argued that one of its biggest advantages is it offers much-improved protection compared to the ordinary internet.

While hackers are widely able to hijack internet information on the normal internet connection, "the risk of cyberattacks is eliminated via the quantum internet network."

He said that this technology will bring benefits to many sectors, i.e. GPS navigation will become much more accurate and error-free, while scientists will be able to detect the fluctuation stages of gravitational waves, and the gravitational field of Earth will also be clearly determined."

To better understand the structure of molecules and proteins, powerful quantum computer networks via the quantum internet will be able to create very complex simulations, Unay concluded.