For the first time, two kinds of quantum key distribution and ordinary data were transmitted simultaneously, between the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge
Researchers have demonstrated the UK’s first long-distance ultra-secure transfer of data over a quantum communications network, including the UK’s first long-distance quantum-secured video call.
A team from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge created the quantum communications network using standard fibre infrastructure and two types of quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes.
They are described as “unhackable encryption keys” hidden inside particles of light and distributed entanglement, a phenomenon that causes quantum particles to be intrinsically linked.
The researchers demonstrated the capabilities via a live, quantum-secure video conference link, the transfer of encrypted medical data and secure remote access to a distributed data centre. The data was successfully transmitted between Bristol and Cambridge – a fibre distance of over 410 kilometres.
This is the first time that a long-distance network, encompassing different quantum-secure technologies such as entanglement distribution, has been successfully demonstrated. The researchers presented their results at the 2025 Optical Fiber Communications Conference (OFC) in San Francisco.
Why is this such a big deal?
The universities say that quantum communications offer unparalleled security compared to ordinary telecoms solutions.
In the past few years, researchers globally have been working to build and use quantum communication networks. China recently set up a massive network that covers 4,600 kilometres by connecting five cities using both fibre and satellites.
In Madrid, researchers created a smaller network with nine connection points that use different types of QKD to securely share information.
In 2019, researchers at Cambridge and Toshiba demonstrated a metro scale quantum network operating at record key rates of millions of key bits per second. In 2020, researchers in Bristol built a network that could share entanglement between multiple users. Similar quantum network trials have been demonstrated in Singapore, Italy and the US.
Despite this progress, until now, there has not been a large, long-distance network that can handle both types of QKD, entanglement distribution and ordinary data transmission simultaneously.
Details of the experiment
The experiment demonstrates the potential of quantum networks to accommodate different quantum-secure approaches simultaneously with classical communications infrastructure. It was carried out using the UK’s Quantum Network (UKQN), established over the last decade by the same team, supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and as part of the Quantum Communications Hub project.
The current UKQN covers two metropolitan quantum networks around Bristol and Cambridge, which are connected via a ‘backbone’ of four long-distance optical fibre links spanning 410 kilometres with three intermediate nodes.
The network uses single-mode fibre over the EPSRC National Dark Fibre Facility (which provides dedicated fibre for research purposes), and low-loss optical switches allowing network reconfiguration of both classical and quantum signal traffic.
Next steps
The team will pursue this work further through a newly funded EPSRC project, the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, whose vision is to establish quantum networks at all distance scales, from local networking of quantum processors to national-scale entanglement networks for quantum-safe communication, distributed computing and sensing, all the way to intercontinental networking via low-earth orbit satellites.
“This is a crucial step toward building a quantum-secured future for our communities and society,” said co-author Dr Rui Wang, Lecturer for Future Optical Networks in the Smart Internet Lab‘s High Performance Network Research Group at the University of Bristol. “More importantly, it lays the foundation for a large-scale quantum internet – connecting quantum nodes and devices through entanglement and teleportation on a global scale.”
Adrian Wonfor from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering added, “This marks the culmination of more than ten years of work to design and build the UK Quantum Network,” said co-author . “Not only does it demonstrate the use of multiple quantum communications technologies, but also the secure key management systems required to allow seamless end-to-end encryption between us.”
