Advanced quantum network could be a prototype for the quantum internet - New Scientist

Researchers have demonstrated a functional three-node quantum network, marking a critical step toward a quantum internet. The system, developed by a European consortium, achieves real-time entanglement distribution and quantum teleportation across 10-kilometer fiber-optic links. The network uses nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamonds as quantum memory nodes, enabling stable qubit storage and retrieval. This hybrid approach combines photonic links with solid-state qubits, addressing prior scalability challenges in quantum repeaters. Field tests in urban environments confirmed the network’s resilience to noise and temperature fluctuations, operating at 99.8% fidelity. This reliability surpasses earlier lab-based prototypes, proving feasibility for real-world deployment. The breakthrough supports secure quantum key distribution (QKD) and distributed quantum computing, with potential applications in finance, defense, and scientific research. Governments and tech firms are now accelerating investment in quantum infrastructure. Experts caution that full-scale quantum internet deployment remains a decade away, pending advances in error correction and node miniaturization. However, this prototype sets a benchmark for global quantum networking standards.