Upgrading OT Networks for Quantum Computing Integration

🚀 Excited to share our latest quantum research published on arXiv! 🔬 Our paper, “OSI Stack Redesign for Quantum Networks: Requirements, Technologies, Challenges, and Future Directions,” tackles the pressing need to reimagine network architecture in the quantum era. 🧠 Classical OSI models were never built to handle the unique properties of quantum communication, such as entanglement, coherence fragility, and the no-cloning theorem. In this work, we propose a Quantum-Converged OSI stack, introducing new layers and reengineering existing ones to support teleportation, quantum security, and semantic orchestration powered by LLMs and QML. 📚 We reviewed and classified over 150+ key research contributions (IEEE, ACM, arXiv, MDPI, Web of Science) and organized them by layer, enabling technology (e.g., QKD, PQC, RIS), and use case—from satellite QKD to quantum IoT. 🧪 We also present: A taxonomy of hybrid control and trust mechanisms A simulation toolkit review (NetSquid, QuNetSim, QuISP) An evaluation framework built around fidelity, entropy, and latency Applications in healthcare telemetry, vehicular networks, and more 📡 This paper lays the groundwork for a programmable, AI-driven quantum networking model suitable for 7G and beyond. 🔗 Read the full paper: arxiv.org/abs/2506.12195 🙏 Grateful to co-authors Muhammad Kamran Saeed and Prof. Ashfaq Khokhar for their brilliant insights and collaboration. #QuantumComputing #QuantumNetworks #7G #Networking #AI #LLM #QuantumSecurity #Research #arXiv

Breakthrough Brings Fiber Optics to Quantum Computing, Reducing Heat and Boosting Efficiency A major breakthrough in quantum computing has been achieved by researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), who have successfully replaced traditional electrical wiring with fiber optics. This innovation reduces heat generation, improves efficiency, and could significantly lower the cost of quantum computers by minimizing their massive cooling requirements. Why This Matters • Quantum computers require extreme cooling: • These systems operate just above absolute zero, requiring dilution refrigerators that cost millions to maintain stability. • Electrical wiring generates heat, which can disrupt qubits, forcing larger, more expensive cooling systems. • Fiber optics offer a low-heat alternative: • Unlike traditional copper wiring, fiber optics use light instead of electricity, eliminating resistive heating. • This change reduces thermal noise, improving qubit stability and performance. • Potential for more scalable quantum computers: • Smaller cooling systems mean lower costs, making quantum computing more commercially viable. • This advancement could pave the way for larger quantum networks, allowing for more qubits to be reliably maintained. Key Benefits of Fiber Optic Integration in Quantum Computing • Dramatic Reduction in Heat Generation • Less heat buildup means smaller and cheaper cooling rigs, reducing overall operational costs. • Improved Qubit Stability • Qubits are extremely sensitive to environmental disturbances—fiber optics minimize interference, helping maintain coherence for longer periods. • Higher Efficiency in Signal Transmission • Optical signals can carry more data with less loss, making quantum operations more precise and scalable. What’s Next? • Expanding Fiber Optics Across Quantum Systems • Researchers will test fiber optics in more complex quantum networks, potentially replacing all conventional wiring. • Further Cooling Innovations • If heat issues continue decreasing, quantum computers may not need dilution refrigerators, lowering barriers to widespread adoption. • Commercial Applications and Industry Adoption • Tech giants like IBM, Google, and Intel may begin incorporating fiber optics into their quantum processors, accelerating real-world deployment. This breakthrough could revolutionize quantum computing infrastructure, drastically reducing costs while improving stability and efficiency, bringing the technology closer to practical and large-scale applications.

The internet didn’t appear overnight. It evolved, layer by layer, through cycles of iteration. The Quantum Internet is on the same journey. ARPANet and NSFNet, the earliest versions of what would become the internet, were built atop pre-existing telecom infrastructure: copper lines, analog switches, tying together emerging computing systems. What we consider the backbone of the internet: fiber optics, packet switching, and TCP/IP were integrated progressively, after validation through focused field trials. Key components, like optical amplifiers and transceivers, were not off-the-shelf products. They were born in labs as improvements and battle-tested in experimental networks. Quantum networking isn’t just an upgrade, it’s an entirely new stack, built from scratch atop infrastructure never meant for fragile quantum states. Every layer, from the physical interface to routing, timing, and control, must be reimagined. Core components like quantum memories, entangled-photon sources, detectors, and polarization control are still evolving as they are often costly, delicate, and confined to academic labs. But those days are coming to an end: Qunnect has operational devices covering all functions, forming a deployable quantum networking stack strategic partners are innovating on today. So how do we drive adoption? By building compelling use cases and running integration tests. History offers a clear playbook. For example, in the 90s, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) launched the Gigabit Testbed Initiative, five parallel networks, each experimenting with different architectures, custom hardware, and emerging protocols. These weren’t just about testing links; they trialed full system stacks in real environments, enabling rapid iteration and real-world feedback. That approach helped shape the classical internet, and it’s exactly how we’ll shape the quantum internet. Testbeds are how we close the gap between fundamental research and deployable infrastructure. That’s how we go from physics experiments to a real quantum internet, and how we scale it. Platforms like the Numana testbed give researchers/industry a place to validate components under realistic conditions. Enabling co-design across hardware, protocols, and system control. They surface integration challenges and help us measure what actually works. For all these reasons we also built Qunnect's GothamQ, and why we’re helping others build theirs, whether it’s with the teams at T-Labs, Air Force Research Laboratory, or at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 👇