Large-scale communication networks, such as the Internet, rely on routing packets of data through multiple intermediate nodes to transmit information from a sender to a receiver.
Researchers has developped a model of a quantum communication network that routes information simultaneously along multiple paths passing through intermediate stations.
They demonstrated that a quantum routing approach can in principle extend the distance over which information can be transmitted reliably.
Surprisingly, the benefit of quantum routing also applies to the transmission of classical information: even if the transmitted data is purely classical, delocalising it on multiple routes can enhance the achievable transmission distance.
These findings highlight the potential of a future quantum internet not only for achieving secure quantum communication and distributed quantum computing but also for extending the range of classical data transmission.
npj Quantum Information, Published online: 20 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41534-024-00919-5
