Networked Quantum Repeaters for future End-to-end Security:
The joint project “Quantenrepeater.Link (QR.X)”, which was funded by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) and ran from August 2021 to July 2024, investigated the foundations for the development of a Quantum Repeater throughout Germany. In January 2025, the newly established research project “Quantenrepeater.Net (QR.N)” will now begin a further funding period that builds on the findings of previous work in QR.X. The focus remains on this key technology. Quantum Repeaters enable the secure transmission of information over long distances and are also essential for the development of Quantum Networks – a central building block for a quantum-secure IT infrastructure. An important objective of QR.N is to create the basis for the development of quantum-secure communication in Germany. This is of great social relevance, particularly for IT security and the protection of critical infrastructures.
As part of QR.N, 42 project partners from research and industry are working together to make significant progress in the development and implementation of Quantum Networks. A central focus of the project is the demonstration of Quantum Repeater Links with more than two nodes. In addition, the establishment of parallel Quantum Channels using multiplexing technologies is being researched. To achieve these goals, the researchers are developing the basic components for Quantum Repeaters and testing their use on real testbeds outside protected laboratory environments. These tests are crucial for testing the technology’s suitability for practical use and ensuring its scalability.
By researching and developing Quantum Repeaters, the project partners are laying the foundations for future Quantum Networks. In the long term, these networks could not only increase the security of critical infrastructures, but also enable a wide range of new applications such as the secure networking of future Quantum Computers. The basis for this is the distribution of entangled Quantum States over long distances. Click here for more information on the joint project.
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