Curator's Take
AI Commentary
This article marks a significant step toward real‑world quantum networks by proving that polarization‑entangled photons can survive the harsh conditions of a live, partially aerial metropolitan fiber link spanning 62 km. The result builds on recent field trials in underground and submarine cables, demonstrating that existing telecom infrastructure can be repurposed for quantum key distribution without extensive retrofitting. While still limited to laboratory‑grade sources and modest rates, the work paves the way for city‑scale secure communications and informs standards bodies shaping future quantum‑ready networks.
— Mark Eatherly
Summary
Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) at the University of Maryland, and quantum networking firm Qunnect have successfully demonstrated long-distance polarization-entangled photon distribution across a live, partially aerial fiber-optic link. Detailed in a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Optical Communications and Networking (JOCN, Vol. [...] The post NIST, UMD, and Qunnect Demonstrate Quantum Entanglement Over 62 km Metropolitan Aerial Fiber appeared first on Quantum Computing Report .