Catenaa, Wednesday, October 29, 2025- For the first time researchers have successfully teleported a quantum state of light through more than 30 kilometers of fiber optic cable while the network carried normal internet traffic, marking a milestone toward a functioning quantum internet.
The achievement, led by Northwestern University’s Prem Kumar, demonstrates that quantum information can coexist with classical data streams without interference.
The experiment used entangled photons to transfer the quantum state of a single particle across a live network, preserving its delicate properties despite the presence of high-volume internet traffic.
Previous studies had only simulated such conditions or relied on dedicated channels.
This work shows that standard fiber optic infrastructure can carry both quantum and classical signals simultaneously, removing a key obstacle to widespread quantum communications.
Quantum teleportation allows a particle’s state to be destroyed in one location and recreated in another, effectively transmitting information without moving the particle itself.
Maintaining coherence during transmission is extremely difficult, as classical data streams and environmental noise tend to disrupt the fragile quantum state.
The team applied precise channel control and strategic photon placement to minimize scattering and interference.
The breakthrough could accelerate the development of next-generation quantum networks, secure communications, and advanced sensing technologies.
By enabling quantum connectivity over existing infrastructure, researchers anticipate a future where geographically separated nodes can share quantum information reliably, forming the backbone of a hybrid classical-quantum internet.
