Have you ever thought about what would happen if the Internet, as we know it, received a radical “upgrade”? The quantum internet is a change that could revolutionize entire sectors.
Imagine a world where your internet connection is so secure that not even the most skilled hacker could intercept it. Where remote surgeries are coordinated with pinpoint precision and telescopes can capture images of the cosmos like never before. It's quantum magic, baby, and Europe he's investing in it.
Quantum internet, from bit to qubit
It's no secret that today's Internet has its limitations. But what if we could go beyond bits and bytes and exploit the laws of quantum physics? In this realm, let's talk about quibit instead of bits. Qubits have the extraordinary ability to exist in multiple states at once, thanks to a phenomenon called overlap. What are the possible applications?
One of the most fascinating features of the quantum internet is the security. In the quantum world, the very act of observing or measuring a particle changes its state. So, good luck to hackers trying to intercept data - they will be immediately discovered.
A Swiss watch for tele surgery
Quantum internet could have revolutionary applications in medicine. Imagine a surgeon performing a remote operation with such precise timing that there is no margin for error.
This level of precision is made possible by physics of entanglement, another quantum phenomenon. And if you are passionate about astronomy, prepare to be amazed. Telescopes could use quantum internet to generate entanglement between sensors, thus achieving superior quality sky images. It's not science fiction, it is applied physics.
The future is just a click away
The ultimate goal of the quantum internet is to extend quantum nodes to much greater distances, perhaps up to 500 kilometers, and create a prototype network that can connect remote cities.
We could see this “super internet” for specialized applications as early as 2029. What about everyone else? Maybe. Stephanie Wehner, professor of quantum information at Delft University of Technology, thinks that this technology is not destined to replace the classical Internet, but to work in synergy with it.
However, experts are cautious about making predictions about when a full version might be available for a wide range of uses.
Quantum internet, the next steps
We are only at the beginning of this exciting adventure. With projections indicating that half of the most widely used crypto systems will be compromised by the end of the decade, Europe she's not the only one interested quantum internet.
China and the United States are also making progress in quantum computing and the quantum internet. As with other infrastructures deemed "inevitable", this too is only a matter of time.
It may be slow to establish itself, but when quantum internet makes its appearance it will be faster than ever.
