Researchers at the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics and Eötvös Loránd University successfully exchanged quantum-key encrypted radio messages across Budapest’s Margaret Bridge on October 29, 2026, a first achieved using the increasingly popular Meshtastic network. The team integrated quantum key distribution, a method secured by the laws of physics rather than computational complexity, with the open-source, mesh-networked radio system.
During the experiment, one message sent read, “Physics enlightens the world!”, receiving the reply, “Indeed!”. This demonstration shows how quantum encryption can protect communications on decentralized networks, even as the potential threat from quantum computers grows.
Quantum Key Distribution via Meshtastic Network in Budapest
Researchers used the Meshtastic network, a system designed for short-range text messaging, to demonstrate the integration of quantum-generated encryption keys into its communications protocol. During the experiment, carried out on October 29, 2026, they exchanged messages encrypted with a quantum-generated key from opposite sides of Margaret Bridge using the Meshtastic radio network. The team recorded message paths using two GPS trackers, revealing that some transmissions were relayed by other users’ devices within the existing Budapest network.
Meshtastic is free for anyone to use, and its software is open source. The LoRa digital radio modulation used by Meshtastic offers a range comparable to fiber-optic quantum key distribution systems, spanning several tens of kilometers while maintaining low power consumption and narrow bandwidth. The researchers confirmed the contents of the quantum-key-protected messages remained unreadable without the correct decryption key, validating the security of the system. To the researchers’ knowledge, this was the first time anywhere in the world that an encryption key generated using quantum key distribution had been used to protect Meshtastic messages.
LoRa Radio Range Mirrors Fiber-Optic QKD Distances
The range afforded by LoRa radio modulation, central to the experiment, closely mirrors the direct reach of fiber-optic quantum key distribution systems, extending the potential for secure, decentralized communication networks. This direct device-to-device communication, characteristic of mesh networks, proved compatible with the demands of quantum key distribution, enabling secure message transmission without reliance on a central authority.
This mobile testing highlighted the network’s adaptability and potential for real-world applications. The project, part of the QCIHungary initiative, intends to build a quantum communications backbone, and this demonstration represents a step toward realizing that goal by extending the reach of quantum encryption beyond specialized networks and into widely available, decentralized communication platforms.
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