Catenaa, Saturday, November 15, 2025- Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney have shown that quantum signals can be transmitted from Earth to satellites, overcoming a challenge long considered impossible and paving the way for high-bandwidth quantum communication networks.
Quantum satellites typically send entangled photons from orbit to multiple ground stations, forming secure links for cryptography.
The UTS team, led by Professors Simon Devitt and Alexander Solntsev, demonstrated through modeling that an “uplink” from Earth to space is feasible despite atmospheric interference, background light, and orbital motion at 500 km altitude.
Their findings appear in Physical Review Research.
By generating entangled photon pairs on the ground and sending them upward, satellites can use compact optical units to interfere photons and report results, reducing the need for large, complex quantum hardware in orbit.
This method increases signal power and simplifies maintenance, potentially enabling future global quantum networks connecting quantum computers across continents.
The researchers propose testing uplink transmission with drones or balloon-borne receivers before full-scale satellite implementation.
The approach could provide the bandwidth required for a functional quantum internet, transforming entanglement into a widely accessible resource for cryptography, computing, and secure communications.
Quantum entanglement, akin to electricity in utility, could become a fundamental resource for devices that draw from ground-based or satellite-generated entanglement, offering high-speed, secure communication without relying solely on space-based photon sources.
