In collaboration with the Quantum Communications Hub and euNetworks Fiber UK Limited, researchers from the University of York have demonstrated quantum communication between the UK and Ireland for the first time. The team, led by Professor Marco Lucamarini, used euNetworks’ Rockabill subsea cable for the experiments. Quantum communication, which uses particles of light to transmit data, collapses if interfered with, providing a potential future security measure for private data. The research advances Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a next-generation data encryption technology. CEO of euNetworks, Paula Cogan, expressed pride in supporting a project with implications for future network security.
Quantum Communication Between the UK and Ireland
Researchers from The University of York, collaborating with the Quantum Communications Hub and euNetworks Fiber UK Limited, have successfully demonstrated quantum communication over the long geographical distance between England and Ireland. This is the first time such a feat has been achieved. The team, led by Professor Marco Lucamarini from the University of York, conducted a series of experiments using the bandwidth infrastructure provider euNetworks’ subsea cable, named Rockabill. This network, one of the newest commercial optical fibre systems in operation, connects Ireland to England in the United Kingdom, running 224 kilometres between Portrane and Southport cable landing stations.
Quantum communication operates on the principle that particles of light can transmit data along optical cables in a highly fragile state. However, these particles collapse if interfered with by someone trying to manipulate or steal private data, such as bank information, in transit. The distance that quantum communication can travel has been a limitation, particularly for organisations needing to send private digital information to other cities or countries.
Overcoming Distance Limitations in QKD
A pilot project was devised to overcome the distance limitation in quantum communication using Rockabill, a new and unique ultra-low loss fibre optic subsea cable with low latency and remarkably low average attenuation. The 224km cable connects landing stations in Southport and Portrane without amplification or a repeating system. The series of experiments conducted on-site resulted in the successful transportation of single and entangled photons, as well as in the successful measurement of the optical phase exploited in twin-field and continuous-variable Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over a longer continuous distance than had ever been established before in undersea optical fibres.
The success of the experiments was largely due to highly sensitive detectors deployed at the Southport endpoint of the cable to reduce environmental noise levels. This research further develops the use of QKD, the next frontier of data encryption technology. This technology has the potential to deliver advanced levels of network security. It is already being applied and tested in worldwide government, pharmaceutical and life science organisations and in the financial services sector.
Future of QKD and Quantum Communication and Network Security
The successful demonstration of quantum communication over such a long distance is a significant step forward in realising the full potential of quantum communications and for the future of securing private data. This project also advances the real-world integration of quantum communication technology into existing global telecommunications and network infrastructure, taking it out of the lab into a ‘real-world’ scenario.
The bandwidth infrastructure company, euNetworks, supported this critical project that pushes the boundaries of quantum technology and has implications for the future of network security. The successful integration of quantum technology over commercial-grade optical fibre infrastructure at this distance is an exciting step forward. More experiments will need to be carried out using the same cable line to pave the way for integrating the services offered by quantum technologies into standard communications for industries sending private data between the UK and Ireland and for further advances in the quantum internet.
About the Collaborating Organisations
euNetworks is a bandwidth infrastructure company, owning and operating 17 fibre based metropolitan networks connected with a high capacity intercity backbone covering 53 cities in 17 countries across Europe. The company is a significant player in data centre connectivity, directly connecting over 515 today. euNetworks also offers a targeted portfolio of metropolitan and long haul services including Dark Fibre, Wavelengths, and Ethernet.
The University of York is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and is a dynamic, research-intensive university. It works collaboratively in partnership with institutions across the world to develop life-saving discoveries and new technologies that tackle some of the most pressing global challenges.
The EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub is a technology research and development collaboration of UK Universities, industrial partners and public sector stakeholders brought together to accelerate the commercialisation of secure quantum communications technologies and services at all distance scales. The project is funded via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of the National Quantum Technologies Programme.
“Many large companies and organisations are interested in quantum communications to secure their data, but it has limitations, particularly the distance it can travel,” said Professor Marco Lucamarini. “The longer the distance, the more likely it is that the photon – the particles of light that we use as carriers of quantum information – are lost, absorbed or scattered in the channel, which reduces the chances of the information reaching its target. This presents a problem when organisations need to send private digital information to other cities or other countries, where the additional challenge could also be an ocean between the communications’ start and end point.”
Professor Lucamarini said, “This is a truly exciting step forward in realising the full potential of quantum communications and for the future of securing private data in an environment that is shaping the so-called ‘quantum internet’. This project also advances the real-world integration of quantum communication technology into existing global telecommunications and network infrastructure – taking it out of the lab into a ‘real-world’ scenario.”
“euNetworks is proud to support a critical project that pushes the boundaries of quantum technology and has implications for the future of network security,” said Paula Cogan, Chief Executive Officer of euNetworks. “The successful integration of quantum technology over commercial-grade optical fibre infrastructure at this distance is an exciting step forward. Rockabill, and euNetworks’ Super Highway network it is part of, provide the ideal platform for new and progressive technologies that will enhance and innovate future network infrastructure.”
Summary
Researchers from the University of York, in collaboration with the Quantum Communications Hub, have successfully demonstrated quantum communication over a long geographical distance between the UK and Ireland, using a subsea fibre optic cable. This breakthrough, which involved the successful transportation of single and entangled photons over a longer continuous distance than ever before, could pave the way for advanced levels of network security and the future of securing private data in the emerging ‘quantum internet’.
- Researchers from The University of York, in collaboration with the Quantum Communications Hub and euNetworks Fiber UK Limited, have successfully demonstrated quantum communication between the UK and Ireland for the first time.
- The team, led by Professor Marco Lucamarini, used euNetworks’ Rockabill subsea cable, a 224km network connecting Ireland to England.
- Quantum communication uses particles of light to transmit data along optical cables. If interfered with, the particles collapse, preventing data theft.
- The technology has limitations, particularly the distance it can travel. The longer the distance, the more likely the particles of light carrying the information are lost, absorbed or scattered.
- To overcome this, the team used Rockabill, a new ultra-low loss fibre optic subsea cable. The cable connects landing stations in Southport and Portrane without amplification or a repeating system.
- The experiments resulted in the successful transportation of single and entangled photons over a longer continuous distance than ever before in undersea optical fibres.
- The research advances the use of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), the next frontier of data encryption technology, which has potential to deliver advanced levels of network security.
- More experiments will be carried out using the same cable line to integrate quantum technologies into standard communications for industries sending private data between the UK and Ireland.