Quantum networks: A new era of interconnectedness

By linking powerful computers and ultraprecise sensors, quantum networks leverage the laws of quantum mechanics to push the edge of discovery

The bottom line

  • Just as digital networks have enabled communication between computers and other electronic devices, quantum networks can enable communication between a new generation of quantum devices, enhancing their abilities and unlocking new applications.
  • NSF is pushing ahead with science and engineering for quantum networks that could provide new technological capabilities, like precise navigation in areas where communication with GPS satellites is impossible.
  • By building the national infrastructure and specialized "quantum-ready" workforce needed to move quantum technology from the lab to the marketplace, NSF is ensuring the U.S. remains at the vanguard of this emerging industry.

Illustration depicting quantum entanglement of two particles
Credit: Nicole R. Fuller/U.S. National Science Foundation
An artistic illustration of quantum entanglement, a phenomenon in which two particles become linked so that the state of one instantaneously influences the other, even across vast distances.

What are quantum networks?

Today's internet moves information between devices using bits, units of data that exist in one of two states: 0 or 1. Quantum networks are designed to move a different kind of information: quantum information. Instead of bits, quantum devices use quantum bits, or "qubits," which behave according to the rules of quantum mechanics.

Unlike ordinary bits, qubits have the seemingly impossible (but real) ability to simultaneously be in state 0, state 1 and a combination of both — a phenomenon known as superposition. Qubits can also be linked to one another through another quantum phenomenon called entanglement, where changes to one qubit instantaneously affect the others, even across long distances.

Quantum networks fundamentally change how data is transferred. By connecting quantum sensors and quantum computers, they go beyond the limits of conventional, binary-based systems to offer unprecedented precision and connectivity.

Firefighters responding to a car accident in a tunnel with a police car in the background.
Credit: Adobe Stock
Future quantum networks could help provide navigation and secure communications for first responders or military personnel operating in areas without access to GPS or other satellites.

Why do quantum networks matter?

Quantum networks will allow geographically separated sensors to work in unison, dramatically improving measurements for a range of applications — from earthquake prediction to agricultural monitoring, navigation to gravitational-wave detection.

For instance, by reading Earth's unique magnetic and gravitational fingerprints, quantum-networked sensors could enable GPS-free positioning. This ensures emergency responders can navigate autonomously through satellite dark zones, such as deep tunnels and underwater environments.

Beyond sensing, quantum networks can combine the processing power of discrete quantum computers to solve problems far beyond the reach of a single machine, such as simulating molecular interactions for drug discovery or accelerating materials science research to create better batteries and solar cells.

What opportunities remain?

While quantum networks offer unique improvements over classical networks, they also come with unique challenges. For example, the quantum states that need to be maintained in these networks are fragile and easily disturbed by slight environmental fluctuations, like changes in temperature. Quantum signals can also degrade as they travel through fiber-optic cables or the atmosphere, which currently limits the distance of reliable transmission.

Unlike classical signals, quantum information cannot be copied or amplified, so addressing these issues will require the development of "quantum repeaters": high-tech relay stations that store and retransmit quantum states without destroying them.

NSF-funded researchers are pioneering long-lived quantum memories and advanced photon detectors — the core components needed to make repeaters work — alongside satellite-based links to bypass ground-level fiber barriers. By integrating these innovations into existing infrastructure, NSF is bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application, bringing quantum networks closer to reality.

NSF's investments in quantum networking

Laying the groundwork

For decades, NSF-funded research has laid the groundwork for scalable quantum infrastructure by supporting key advancements in quantum information science, advanced circuits and state manipulation.

  • Proving entanglement (1970s-1980s): Building on the seminal 1972 experiments by John Clauser and Stuart Freedman, subsequent breakthroughs by Alain Aspect and Anton Zeilinger verified that quantum entanglement is a real, functional phenomenon. Supported by critical NSF funding, which backed Zeilinger's landmark experiments and Aspect's major U.S. collaborations, this collective body of work earned Clauser, Aspect and Zeilinger the 2022 Nobel Prize in physics. Their discoveries demonstrated that particles can remain linked across any distance and laid the foundation for the first quantum communication links.
  • No cloning theorem (1982): NSF supported the foundational research of William Wootters and Wojciech Zurek, which led to their seminal paper, "A single quantum cannot be cloned," in Nature and the resulting "no cloning" theorem. The theorem, which states that an arbitrary, unknown quantum state cannot be perfectly duplicated, has fundamentally altered our understanding of quantum mechanics. It solidified the distinction between quantum and classical information by demonstrating that, unlike classical data, quantum information cannot be backed up or copied.
  • Superconducting electronics (the mid-1980s): NSF-funded researchers John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis demonstrated that quantum tunneling could be observed in macroscopic superconducting circuits. Their breakthrough proved "hand-sized" systems could behave as quantum objects, leading to the creation of the superconducting qubits, which power quantum memories and communication nodes — a breakthrough recognized with a 2025 Nobel Prize in physics.
  • Quantum state teleportation and distillation (1993-1997): NSF-funded researcher Charles Bennett and colleague Charles Brassard introduced quantum teleportation, using entanglement to transfer the unknown quantum states (the information or "qubit") between locations. This idea proved that entanglement could function as a practical resource for transmitting information. They later developed entanglement distillation to "purify" signals for reliable transmission. These discoveries helped define the conceptual framework for quantum networking and earned them the 2025 Association for Computing Machinery A.M. Turing Prize.
  • Bose-Einstein condensate (1995): With NSF support, Eric Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle and Carl Wieman created the first Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) (2001 Nobel Prize), a "superatom" state of matter where atoms act in perfect unison. This collective behavior provides a good platform for quantum memory — the ability to catch and store fragile quantum data without destroying it. The discovery of BEC and other platforms for quantum memory could accelerate the development of quantum repeaters that may one day become essential for extending the range of networks over longer distances.

Illustration of the hybrid distributed quantum computer and network architecture that HQAN is developing.
Credit: Emily Edwards (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)
Illustration of the hybrid distributed quantum computer and network architecture that HQAN is developing.

Taking quantum networks into the future

The next frontier will focus on moving quantum technology out of labs and into the cities' power grids and modular quantum computers of tomorrow. This transition requires developing the essential hardware, such as quantum repeaters, and software architecture necessary to support scalable quantum networks.

  • From regional test beds to national infrastructure

    • NSF is driving this transition by funding regional test beds like QuantumGrid in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Here, researchers are testing quantum signals within existing underground fiber-optic cables to bolster the nation's power grid, creating a blueprint for the first commercially available quantum network and computing center.
    • Supporting these regional efforts is a broader network of university-based interdisciplinary NSF Engineering Research Centers (NSF ERC). Through strategic university-industry partnerships, NSF ERCs pursue high-risk, high-payoff research to solve complex technical challenges. For instance, the Center for Quantum Networks is developing the entire technology stack to reliably connect quantum processors and move quantum data across the nation. To achieve this, they are building test beds that integrate optical fiber and satellite communication platforms to establish America's Quantum Networks.

  • Building a quantum-ready workforce

    • As these emerging technologies become commercialized, cultivating a specialized, quantum-ready workforce becomes a national priority. NSF is meeting this demand by developing the talent pipeline needed to lead and sustain this emerging industry. Key initiatives include:
      • The NSF Physics Frontiers Centers spur breakthroughs in physics, including quantum research, while providing mentorship to the next generation of scientists and engineers, ensuring they are ready to lead in the lab and beyond.
      • Through the QuantumGrid project, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and partners recently launched the nation's first quantum pre-apprenticeship. This program equips early- to mid-career professionals with the skills to lead quantum adoption in sectors such as information technology, logistics and energy.
      • NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (NSF QLCI) are large-scale hubs tackling major hurdles in quantum computation, networking and sensing, while expanding training opportunities in communities nationwide. A prime example is the NSF QLCI for Hybrid Quantum Architectures and Networks (HQAN), which scales quantum processors into interconnected networks to build more powerful computers. To date, HQAN has trained over 150 professionals and 22 teachers and engaged more than 12,000 K-12 students and 16,400 community members.

  • Democratizing access to tools of innovation

    • To ensure the quantum revolution reaches every corner of the country, NSF is removing geographical and financial barriers to innovation:

      • NSF National Quantum Virtual Laboratory: This ambitious effort is accelerating the development of quantum technologies by providing researchers anywhere in the U.S. with remote access to specialized resources. Now in the design stage, the lab will broaden access to the hardware and software needed for quantum science, engineering and technology development.
      • NSF National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NSF NQNI): Launched in 2026, this $100 million initiative is a nationwide network of 16 university-hosted, open-access sites designed to drive quantum manufacturing and workforce training. The program provides students, researchers and startups with access to advanced fabrication tools and expertise to lower barriers in quantum technology and semiconductor development.
      • NSF X-Labs: Launched in 2026, this $1.5 billion initiative will support independent teams of researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs to solve specific scientific challenges. Focus areas include drawing on quantum sensing and AI to build next-generation scientific instruments, and developing novel components to transfer quantum information.

      By democratizing access to state-of-the-art tools, NSF ensures the U.S. leads the quantum revolution, developing the technology and talent to bolster national security and grow the economy.

Credit: Rochester Institute of Technology, Carlos Ortiz
Quantum technologies are poised to reshape industries like communication, computing, and security. Rochester Institute of Technology has used its strength in optics to create a quantum communication network utilizing quantum photonic microchips, seen here.

Delve deeper: Learn more about NSF's history of investments in quantum.

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