Quantum Networks A New Era for Space Communication

Executive Summary

Governments and organizations around the world have been investing in and deploying quantum networking technologies to secure their critical communications and maintain a competitive edge. Developing quantum strategies is crucial for national security, technological leadership, including investing in research and development, fostering collaborations between different industries and organizations, and continuing the development of standards and regulations. Organizations are starting to develop integrated use cases for quantum networking, such as free-space quantum secure communications, and start planning for the integration with existing infrastructure. Proactive engagement today is essential to capitalize on the potential of this technology and ensure a secure and resilient future.

As global competition intensifies in the race to develop quantum networks, it is imperative that the United States take decisive leadership in quantum satellite technology. A robust, American-led quantum satellite infrastructure will not only secure national communications against emerging quantum threats, but will also enable next-generation capabilities in secure networking, sensing, time synchronization, and distributed quantum computing. Substantial foreign investments and publications, particularly from China, have proven the feasibility of this technology and demonstrated its use cases, placing the U.S. and its allies in a delicate position. However, the opportunity remains strong for the U.S. to leapfrog global competitors through a coordinated, mission-oriented, multi-lateral effort drawing upon the nation’s best minds and resources in government, industry, and academia. With targeted investment and strategic milestones, the U.S. can further establish itself as the eminent leader in the age of the quantum internet.

 

The Challenge

Faced with evolving cyber threats from quantum computers and sophisticated adversaries, there is a growing need for secure and resilient space-based communications. Aliro is developing a suite of quantum secure space-based communication solutions, poised to transform secure global connectivity and address escalating threats to traditional communication infrastructure.

Quantum secure satellite communications, leveraging Quantum Secure Communication protocols, offers physics-based security and a future-proof solution for global communications and beyond.

Technological advancements in areas like photonics, materials science, and cryogenics have finally caught up with the theoretical foundations of quantum mechanics, thus fueling the development and implementation of practical quantum technologies. Specifically, quantum networking is ready to unlock the “quantum advantage” across communications, computing, and sensing by utilizing the properties of quantum mechanics. By enabling the distribution of entanglement and quantum information, quantum networking will act as the backbone to facilitate secure communications impervious to hacking, connect quantum computers for exponentially great processing power, and enhance the sensitivity and precision of quantum sensors through distributed networks.

 

The Need for Innovation

Global communication networks are vulnerable to both physical and cyberattacks. The weaknesses in today’s network infrastructure are exacerbated by the limitations of classical encryption. These vulnerabilities are being exploited at increasing rates and scale, with adversaries targeting the digital networks underpinning critical infrastructure, digital currencies, enterprise IT systems, political elections, and intellectual property, threatening the fundamental notions of digital trust and data integrity upon which society is increasingly reliant. These attacks and future threats have resulted in pervasive global efforts to thoroughly investigate, inventory, upgrade, and modernize network backbones and their legacy cryptosystems.

Current communication infrastructure, particularly the subsea network infrastructure, face a multitude of threats. Physical damage from natural disasters like earthquakes or undersea landslides, or human activities such as anchor strikes and deliberate sabotage, pose significant risks to the cables themselves. Cyber attacks, ranging from denial-of-service attacks, to undetected data harvesting, to sophisticated intrusions targeting network equipment, can disrupt or hijack data flow. Geopolitical tensions and conflicts have also threatened these networks, either through direct attacks or through the disruption of maintenance and repair operations. The vast interconnectivity and reliance on these networks for critical infrastructure and financial transactions makes them attractive targets for both state-sponsored and criminal organizations, amplifying the potential impact of any disruption.

 

Proposed Solution

Quantum Secure Communications (QSC) is the family of entanglement-based COMSEC protocols that run over, and are enabled by, entanglement-based quantum networks. Aliro’s Quantum Secure Networks (QSN) comes equipped with two QSC applications: entanglement-based cryptographic key generation (BBM92 Protocol), and Eavesdropper Detection for quantum communications. These applications offer information-theoretic security and guaranteed eavesdropper detection, respectively. These are security features that cannot be achieved with solely math-based cryptography (e.g., post-quantum cryptography).

It is important to note that QSC extends beyond just cryptographic key generation and eavesdropper detection: QSC infrastructure also enables quantum secure direct communications (QSDC), teleportation, intrusion detection for classical communications, quantum sensing-based security, position verification, among many other applications. In fact, there is an almost ever growing catalog of promising QSC applications ranging from authentication to those that help enable zero-trust architectures. Additional QSC applications will be rolled out as the infrastructure scales.

 

Key Benefits of Quantum Secure Communication

• Physics-based Security: By leveraging the fundamental laws of physics, quantum networks enable secure communication by exchanging encryption keys that are impossible to intercept, even with powerful computers. This is crucial for protecting sensitive data.
• Advanced computing: Quantum networks connect quantum computers, allowing them to work together to solve complex problems that are currently impossible to tackle.
• Enhanced sensing: Quantum networks improve the sensitivity of quantum sensors, enabling breakthroughs in fields like imaging, environmental monitoring, and Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT).

Overall, quantum networking is a groundbreaking technology with the potential to revolutionize various fields by providing secure communication, advancing quantum computing, and enabling new forms of sensing.

 

The Quantum Space Race

In a world increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, physics-based secure communications has prompted significant interest in quantum communication technologies from organizations and countries around the world due to its valuable information security benefits. While terrestrial quantum networks are developing rapidly, the current limitations of fiber optic cables over long distances necessitate exploring free-space and satellite-based approaches. These methods offer the potential to establish global quantum networks, enabling secure communication across continents and beyond. Several projects have already demonstrated the feasibility of this approach, achieving groundbreaking results in quantum key distribution and entanglement distribution via satellite.

United States

While the United States is actively researching and developing quantum technologies for space-based applications, it has not yet launched a dedicated satellite specifically designed for quantum networking. This puts the U.S. behind nations such as China, which have already demonstrated satellite-based quantum communication.

Specific space-based quantum networking projects within the United States:

• Space Entanglement and Annealing Quantum Experiment (SEAQUE): A NASA-funded experiment on the International Space Station (ISS), SEAQUE tests technologies for quantum communications in space. It focuses on generating and detecting pairs of entangled photons and developing self-healing techniques to protect quantum instruments and hardware from radiation damage.
• Quantum & Space Collaboration: A collaboration between the Department of Energy (DOE), NASA, and the Department of Defense (DOD) to leverage quantum technologies for space-based applications.

Around the world: 

• Micius Satellite: China launched the Micius satellite in 2016, achieving groundbreaking feats in quantum communication. It successfully demonstrated the distribution of entangled photons over distances of up to 1,200 kilometers between ground stations, establishing a record for quantum key distribution (QKD) via satellite. This mission paved the way for future global-scale quantum networks.
• QEYSSat: Canada is developing the Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat) to test quantum communication technologies in space. This microsatellite will demonstrate QKD between ground stations and explore the potential for future quantum communication links with aircraft and underwater platforms.
• SOCRATES and Galassia: Japan and Singapore have also launched satellites dedicated to quantum communication experiments. SOCRATES tested the feasibility of satellite-based QKD, while Galassia aimed to establish a secure communication link using quantum entanglement.
• SpeQtre: A joint UK-Singapore project focused on developing a satellite for QKD, aiming to demonstrate secure communication from space and pave the way for a global quantum-safe network.
• Eagle-1: European Space Agency (ESA) initiative to launch the first satellite-based QKD system in Europe, bolstering secure communication and paving the way for a pan-European quantum–secure network. 

China has emerged as a global leader in quantum networking, particularly in quantum communication technology. They have made significant strides in building extensive quantum networks and demonstrating significant capabilities.

China’s key achievements:

• World’s largest QKD network: China operates the world’s longest quantum key distribution network, spanning over 12,000 kilometers and connecting major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. This network utilizes both fiber optic cables and satellite links to ensure secure communication.
• Quantum satellites: China launched the world’s first quantum satellite, Micius, in 2016. This satellite has enabled groundbreaking experiments in quantum communication, including secure key distribution between ground stations separated by vast distances.
• Integrated ground and space network: China has integrated its ground-based QKD network with its satellite-based quantum communication capabilities, creating a hybrid network that offers enhanced coverage and resilience.
• China’s quantum networking future: China has committed substantial funding to continued initiatives for expanding its current quantum network and building on the entanglement-based network they established in 2024. China aims to launch an entanglement-based QKD satellite in 2027, further solidifying its leadership in quantum communications.

China's continued investment and published progress in quantum networking suggest that they are likely to remain a leading force in this field. Their ambitious plans, substantial government funding, rapid development pace, and confident public posture in the international quantum community pose a challenge to other nations seeking to maintain a competitive edge in quantum technology. As quantum networks continue to evolve, they will likely play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of communication and computing, and China is well-positioned to be a major player in this transformation.

 

A Phased Roadmap to an American-led Quantum Internet

While undoubtedly an invaluable vision to work towards as a nation, paralleled only by few historical technological revolutions, deploying such an infrastructure can be complex and costly. To best realize this vision and capitalize on the technological use cases along the way, the development of a quantum satellite infrastructure must be approached as a series of achievable, strategically-sequenced milestones that align with national security priorities as well as economic opportunities. Below is a structured roadmap for realizing an American-led quantum internet infrastructure:

• Near-Term: Foundation and Demonstration (1-3 Years)

1. Optical Ground Stations: Investment in stationary and mobile ground stations capable of interfacing with quantum satellites, other terrestrial ground stations, and fiber networks is critical for early adoption, testing, and operations.
2. Space-Grade Hardware Testing: Focused research, development, and procurement of space-hardened quantum hardware, adaptive optics, photon sources, photon detectors, and quantum memories to ensure operability and durability in relevant environments (e.g., launch conditions, space operations, radiation exposure, temperature fluctuations, atmospheric conditions).
3. Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Demonstration: Launch of dedicated quantum satellite(s) to test uplinks and downlinks, supporting trials of quantum key distribution (QKD) and secure ground-to-space communications.
4. Integration with Post-Quantum Cryptography: Demonstrate and develop operational integration of entanglement, QKD, PQC, and legacy technology in a variety of standardized system configurations.

Figure 1: Example uplink (left) and downlink (right) topologies for LEO secure communications.

 

• Medium-Term: Network Expansion and Secure Communications (3-7 Years)

1. Long-Distance Entanglement Distribution: Achieving sustained quantum entanglement with ground stations across strategic regional and intercontinental distances, integrating quantum repeaters and entanglement swapping techniques.
2. Inter-Satellite Links for Constellations: Deployment of multiple satellites in LEO and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) to enable inter-satellite quantum links, advancing global secure communications capabilities with increased coverage.
3. Government-Industry Pilot Networks: Establishment of early-use quantum secure communication network services for operational defense, diplomatic, and critical infrastructure applications going beyond research-oriented testbed capabilities.

• Long-Term: Full-Spectrum Quantum Internet (7-15 Years)

1. Constellation Expansion: Deployment of high-throughput quantum satellites across LEO, MEO, and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) for global-scale secure networking.
2. Interoperability with Terrestrial Fiber Networks: Seamless integration with fiber-based hybrid networks, allowing for a fully-connected, quantum secure backbone servicing critical network services in cities, datacenters, energy grids, military installations, and international partner locations for use in government and industrial applications.
3. Advanced Quantum-Enabled Applications: Leveraging the quantum infrastructure for ultra-precise global time distribution, enhanced geospatial sensing, distributed quantum computing, and future applications that will underpin the next era of high-performance computing, scientific research, and secure information exchange.
   

 

Summary

Governments and organizations should look to the sky for secure communications and invest in space-based quantum network infrastructure. Terrestrial quantum networks face limitations due to signal loss in fiber optic cables, hindering the establishment of truly global secure communication networks. Satellites can overcome this constraint, enabling the connection of distant locations and facilitating secure communication across continents and oceans. Space-based quantum networks also offer enhanced resilience against natural disasters and physical attacks that can disrupt ground-based communication infrastructure. A distributed network of satellites provides redundancy and ensures communication continuity. These quantum networks can serve as the foundation for future space exploration, enabling secure communication with lunar or Martian outposts, facilitating complex scientific experiments, and supporting the development of a robust and secure space-based communication infrastructure. By investing in space-based quantum networks today, governments and organizations can secure a future-proof communication infrastructure, enhance national security, and pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.

 

 

About Aliro

Aliro, The Quantum Networking Company®, offers AliroNet® to run entanglement-based Quantum Networks for applications such as Quantum Secure Communications (QSC), secure access to clouds and data centers, networking of quantum computers, and networking of distributed quantum sensors. AliroNet is also used to implement comprehensive Advanced Secure Networks which include Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Aliro provides quantum network simulation as a professional service or as an on-premises offer. AliroNet® users include utility companies, telecommunications providers, public sector organizations, enterprises, and researchers who are simulating, designing, piloting, orchestrating, and building the world's first quantum networks. Visit us at AliroTech.com.