There could be a secure quantum internet in the middle
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Another step to the quantum internet has been completed and no special communication equipment is required. Two German data centers have already used existing communication fibers to exchange quantum safe information at room temperature. This is in contrast to most quantum communications, and in many cases it requires cooling to very low temperatures to protect quantum particles from environmental disturbances.
Thanks to being encoded into quantum particles of light, known as photons, the quantum internet, which allows for extremely secure exchange of information, is rapidly expanding into the world outside of labs. In March, microsatellites enabled quantum links between China’s ground stations and South Africa. A few weeks ago, the first operating system for quantum communications networks was announced.
now, Mirko Pittaluga Toshiba Europe Limited and his colleagues are sending quantum information through optical fibers between two facilities, approximately 250 km apart, in Kehl and Frankfurt, Germany. This information passed through the third station between them, just over 150km from Frankfurt.
Photons can be lost or damaged when crossing long distances through fiber optic cables, so large quantum internet iterations require “quantum repeaters” and reduce these losses. In this setup, the midway station played a similar role, allowing the network to outweigh the simpler connections between the two previously tested endpoints.
In a notable improvement on previous quantum networks, the team used existing fibers and devices that could be easily slotted into racks that already house traditional communication equipment. This enhances the case where Quantum Internet will ultimately become plug-and-play operations.
The researchers also used photon detectors that cost much less than those used in previous experiments. Although some of these previous experiments spanned hundreds of kilometers, they say that using these detectors reduces both the cost and energy requirements of the new network. Raja Yehea At the Institute of Photonic Science in Spain.
Premkumar Northwestern University in Illinois says that using the types of quantum communications protocols here on commercial equipment highlights how quantum networks are approaching practicality. “Systems engineers can see this and see that it works,” Kumar says. However, he says that in order to be completely practical, networks need to exchange information faster.
Medi Namaji Quantum Communication Start-Up Qunnect in New York says that this approach could be beneficial for future networks of quantum computers or quantum sensors, but it is not as efficient as involving true quantum repeaters.
Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully achieved quantum state transfer over a 30.2 km fiber carrying 400 Gbps C-band classical traffic. The ability for quantum and conventional networks to operate within the same optical fiber will aid in the large-scale deployment of quantum network technology.
thomas others. Demonstrated quantum state teleportation over 30.2 km of fiber with conventional high-power 400 Gbps data traffic. By employing different methods to suppress SpRS noise, we have increased the classical power that can transmit many Tbps aggregate data rates while maintaining sufficient teleportation fidelity. Image credit: Thomas others., doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.540362.
The fiber optic infrastructure and telecommunications technologies that underpin the Internet have been widely adopted by researchers aiming to develop quantum networks capable of applications such as quantum-enhanced cryptography, sensing, and networked quantum computing.
However, the feasibility of quantum networking at scale remains uncertain, as much of the existing fiber infrastructure still carries traditional communications traffic, and new fiber is expensive to lease and install. It depends on its ability to propagate within the network. Uses the same fiber as high-power classical signals.
“In optical communications, all signals are converted to light,” said Prem Kumar, a professor at Northwestern University.
“Conventional signals in classical communications are typically made up of millions of particles of light, whereas quantum information uses a single photon.”
Professor Kumar and his colleagues have discovered a way to allow delicate photons to avoid crowded traffic.
“This is incredibly exciting because no one thought it was possible,” Professor Kumar said.
“Our research points the way to next-generation quantum and classical networks that share a unified fiber optic infrastructure.”
“Essentially, this opens the door to taking quantum communications to the next level.”
After studying in detail how light is scattered in fiber optic cables, researchers have discovered a less crowded wavelength of light at which to place photons.
Next, we added a special filter to reduce noise from normal internet traffic.
“We carefully studied how light scatters and placed photons at decision points where that scattering mechanism is minimized,” Professor Kumar said.
“We found that quantum communication can be performed without interference from simultaneously existing classical channels.”
To test the new method, the scientists installed a 20-mile-long fiber optic cable with photons at each end.
They then transmitted quantum information and regular internet traffic simultaneously.
Finally, we measured the quality of the quantum information at the receiving end by taking quantum measurements at intermediate points while running the teleportation protocol.
They discovered that quantum information was successfully transmitted even in the midst of busy Internet traffic.
Next, the authors plan to extend the experiment to even longer distances.
They also plan to use two pairs of entangled photons to demonstrate entanglement swapping, another important milestone leading to distributed quantum applications.
Finally, we are exploring the possibility of running experiments via underground optical cables in the real world rather than on spools in the lab.
“Quantum teleportation has the ability to securely provide quantum connectivity between geographically separated nodes,” Professor Kumar said.
“But many people have long thought that no one would build the specialized infrastructure to transmit particles of light.”
“If you choose the wavelength properly, you don't need to build new infrastructure. Classical and quantum communications can coexist.”
of the team paper Published in this month's magazine optica.
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Jordan M. Thomas others. 2024. Quantum teleportation coexists with classical communication using optical fibers. optica 11 (12): 1700-1707;doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.540362
This article is adapted from the original release by Northwestern University.
U.S. Navy Lt. Cameron Winslow reported that the lead-covered telegraph cable seemed to weigh multiple tons and was difficult to remove from the ocean floor and cut due to unfavorable weather conditions.
“The rough waves caused the heavy boat to collide, shattering the planks and narrowly avoiding being crushed,” he said.
Winslow’s team eventually managed to sever a 46-meter (150-foot) section of the cable using a hacksaw, disrupting enemy communications. This action took place in 1898 during the Cuban campaign of the Spanish-American War. Even over a century later, undersea communication cables remain strategic targets during times of geopolitical tension.
On November 17 and 18 of this year, two undersea fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged, possibly due to sabotage, as stated by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Swedish authorities indicated that the Chinese cargo ship Yi Peng 3, in close proximity at the time, was of interest in the cable severing incident.
The current threats to undersea cables are influenced by geopolitical events such as Russia’s actions in Ukraine, China’s activities with Taiwan, and conflicts like the Israel-Gaza war, all of which have historically been primary targets.
These cables, comparable in thickness to a garden hose when laid deep in the ocean, handle 99% of international telecommunications traffic utilized by individuals, businesses, and governments. There are approximately 530 active undersea cable systems worldwide, covering over 850,000 miles.
A click on the World submarine cable map provides a clear visual representation of global connectivity and susceptibility to disruptions. These cables play a crucial role in facilitating financial transactions, government communications, voice calls, and data transmission over the Internet, amounting to trillions of dollars daily.
Dr. Sidharth Kaushal, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, emphasized the vital importance of undersea cables to the global economy, making them a prime target for nations seeking to cause unrest.
While deliberate damage to undersea cables can have significant consequences due to the vast amount of global data they transmit, such attacks need to be sustained and public to be truly impactful. Kaushal mentioned that one-off incidents like the Baltic episode can be denied, but the economic threat behind them can still convey a strong diplomatic message.
Leaked documents from Edward Snowden revealed that major telecom companies provided British intelligence access to undersea cables, raising concerns about surveillance. Furthermore, a report by US cybersecurity firm Recorded Future suggested that Russia was closely monitoring its undersea cable system.
In 2015, the New York Times reported aggressive Russian naval activities near an undersea cable running from the North Sea to Northeast Asia, highlighting suspicions of various countries involved in cable disruptions.
Taiwan’s National Board of Audit reported multiple instances where foreign vessels damaged cables linking Taiwan to remote islands, possibly signaling intentional disruptions. These incidents included damage caused by fishing boats, cargo ships, and sand dredgers.
Instances like the ones in Taiwan underscore the potential impact of undersea cable disruptions on daily internet connectivity and communication services, as seen in the slow internet connections and dropped calls resulting from damaged cables.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels denied targeting Red Sea cables after disruptions to major communication networks, adding to the complex landscape of undersea cable incidents.
Recorded Future data shows over 100 undersea cable failures annually, primarily due to accidental damage from activities like fishing and anchoring. Repair costs for undersea cables can be substantial, reaching up to $40,000 per mile, with transatlantic cables costing hundreds of millions to install.
There are concerns of Chinese influence over global undersea cable networks, potentially leading to increased control over data flows. As state actors continue to navigate the delicate balance of causing chaos, the future of undersea cables remains uncertain.
ITonga was plunged into darkness in the aftermath of a massive volcanic eruption in the early days of 2022. The undersea eruption, 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb, sent tsunamis into Tonga’s neighbouring islands and covered the islands’ white coral sand in ash.
The force of the eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano cut off internet connections to Tonga, cutting off communications at the very moment the crisis began.
The scale of the disruption was clear when the undersea cables that carry the country’s internet were restored weeks later. The loss of connectivity hampered restoration efforts and dealt a devastating blow to businesses and local finances that rely on remittances from overseas.
The disaster has exposed extreme vulnerabilities in the infrastructure that underpins how the Internet works.
Nicole Starosielski, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and author of “The Undersea Network,” says modern life is inseparable from the running internet.
In that sense, it’s a lot like drinking water: a utility that underpins our very existence, and like water, few people understand what it takes to get it from distant reservoirs to our kitchen taps.
Modern consumers have come to imagine the internet as something invisible floating in the atmosphere, an invisible “cloud” that rains data down on our heads. Many believe everything is wireless because our devices aren’t connected by cables, but the reality is far more unusual, Starosielski says.
An undersea internet cable laid on the ocean floor. Photo: Mint Images/Getty Images/Mint Images RF
Nearly all internet traffic — Zoom calls, streaming movies, emails, social media feeds — reaches us through high-speed fibre optics laid beneath the ocean. These are the veins of the modern world, stretching for around 1.5 million kilometres beneath the surface of the ocean, connecting countries through physical cables that conduct the internet.
Speaking on WhatsApp, Starosielski explains that the data transmitting her voice is sent from her phone to a nearby cell tower. “That’s basically the only radio hop in the entire system,” she says.
It travels underground at the speed of light from a mobile phone tower via fibre optic cable on land, then to a cable landing station (usually near water), then down to the ocean floor and finally to the cable landing station in Australia, where The Guardian spoke to Starosielski.
“Our voices are literally at the bottom of the ocean,” she says.
Spies, Sabotage, and Sharks
The fact that data powering financial, government and some military communications travels through cables little thicker than a hose and barely protected by the ocean water above it has become a source of concern for lawmakers around the world in recent years.
In 2017, NATO officials reported that Russian submarines were stepping up surveillance of internet cables in the North Atlantic, and in 2018 the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russian companies that allegedly provided “underwater capabilities” to Moscow for the purpose of monitoring undersea networks.
At the time, Jim Langevin, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said a Russian attack on the undersea cables would cause “significant harm to our economy and daily life.”
Workers install the 2Africa submarine cable on the beach in Amanzimtoti, South Africa, in 2023. Photo: Logan Ward/Reuters
Targeting internet cables has long been a weapon in Russia’s hybrid warfare arsenal: When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Moscow cut off the main cable connection to the peninsula, seizing control of the internet infrastructure and allowing the Kremlin to spread disinformation.
Global conflicts have also proven to wreak unexpected havoc on internet cable systems: In February, Iran-backed Houthi militants attacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea. The sinking of the Rubimaa likely cut three undersea cables in the region, disrupting much of the internet traffic between Asia and Europe.
The United States and its allies have expressed serious concerns that adversaries could eavesdrop on undersea cables to obtain “personal information, data, and communications.” A 2022 Congressional report highlighted the growing likelihood that Russia or China could gain access to undersea cable systems.
It’s an espionage technique the US knows all too well: in 2013, The Guardian revealed how Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had hacked into internet cable networks to access vast troves of communications between innocent people and suspected targets. This information was then passed on to the NSA.
Documents released by whistleblower Edward Snowden also show that undersea cables connecting Australia and New Zealand to the US were tapped, giving the NSA access to internet data in Australia and New Zealand.
Despite the numerous dangers and loud warnings from Western governments, there have been few calls for more to be done to secure cable networks, and many believe the threat is exaggerated.
The 2022 EU report said there were “no published and verified reports suggesting a deliberate attack on cable networks by any actor, including Russia, China or non-state groups.”
“Perhaps this suggests that the threat scenarios being discussed may be exaggerated.”
One expert speaking to the Guardian offered a more blunt assessment, describing the threat of sabotage as “nonsense”.
TeleGeography map of undersea internet cables connecting the US, UK and Europe. Photo: TeleGeography/https://www.submarinecablemap.com/
The data bears this out, showing that sharks, anchors and fishing pose a bigger threat to the global Internet infrastructure than Russian espionage. A US report on the issue said the main threat to networks is “accidental human-involved accidents.” On average, a cable is cut “every three days.”
“In 2017, a vessel accidentally cut an undersea communications cable off the coast of Somalia, causing a three-week internet outage and costing the country $10 million per day,” the report said.
An Unequal Internet
But for many experts, the biggest risk to the internet isn’t sabotage, espionage or even rogue anchors, but the uneven spread of the globe-spanning cable infrastructure that ties together the world’s digital networks.
“There aren’t cables everywhere,” Starosielski said. “The North Atlantic has a high concentration of cables connecting the U.S. and Europe, but the South Atlantic doesn’t have as many.”
“So you’re seeing diversity in terms of some parts of the world being more connected and having multiple routes in case of a disconnection.”
As of 2023, there are more than 500 communication cables on the ocean floor. Map of the world’s submarine cable networks These are found to be mainly concentrated in economic and population centres.
The uneven distribution of cables is most pronounced in the Pacific, where a territory like Guam, with a population of just 170,000 and home to a U.S. naval base, has more than 10 internet cables connecting the island, compared with seven in New Zealand and just one in Tonga, both with a population of more than 5 million.
The aftermath of the 2022 Tonga eruption spurred governments around the world to act, commissioning reports on the vulnerabilities of existing undersea cable networks while technology companies worked to harden networks to prevent a similar event from happening again.
Last month, Tonga’s internet went down again.
Damage to undersea internet cables connecting the island’s networks caused power outages across much of the country and disruption to local businesses.
For now, economic fundamentals favor laying cables to Western countries and emerging markets where digital demand is surging. Despite warnings of sabotage and accidental damage, without market imperatives to build more resilient networks, there is a real risk that places like Tonga will continue to be cut off, threatening the very promise of digital fairness that the internet is based on, experts say.
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