In a study published this week in Nature, a team from Peking University said it had developed a prototype networking capacity that could communicate over distances of more than 3,700km (2,300 miles).
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is regarded as the gold standard for secure communication – any attempt at eavesdropping inevitably leaves detectable traces, regardless of distance or the number of intermediate devices involved.
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But despite its theoretical promise, QKD has struggled to overcome barriers such as limited range, prohibitive equipment costs or the inability to serve multiple users efficiently.
Current systems rely on a series of “trusted relay nodes” – essentially stations that handle quantum keys along the route.
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While functional, these nodes introduce potential security vulnerabilities, much like packages that change hands at multiple distribution centres.
