Researchers from the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) have revealed a new quantum communications network that spans their two campuses
The Rochester Quantum Network, or RoQNET, transmits information using single photons over a dual fibre-optic line stretching roughly 11 miles.
Why photons matter
Unlike traditional data systems that rely on electrical signals, RoQNET uses quantum bits, or qubits, encoded in photons, the individual light particles. These photons serve as carriers of quantum information, making the system not only extremely fast but also inherently secure. Because of the laws of quantum mechanics, any attempt to intercept or copy information carried by a qubit disturbs it, making eavesdropping detectable.
What sets RoQNET apart from other experimental quantum networks is its innovative use of integrated photonic chips and solid-state quantum memory nodes.
These advanced components enable the generation and storage of quantum light within the network, pushing the boundaries of how quantum data can be created and transmitted in real-world environments.
Built for real-world conditions
RoQNET operates at room temperature and uses wavelengths that are compatible with today’s standard fibre-optic infrastructure.
This means it has the potential to scale much more easily than other quantum systems that often rely on expensive and cumbersome cooling equipment, such as superconducting detectors. While current systems still depend on superconducting-nanowire-single-photon-detectors (SNSPDs), the Rochester team is actively working to eliminate this limitation.
RoQNET is also designed with flexibility in mind. The photonic technology developed by the Rochester and RIT teams allows for communication between different qubits, such as those based on atoms, trapped ions, or quantum dots, making the network highly adaptable for various quantum computing and sensing applications.
One of the project’s long-term goals is to enable distributed quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where particles remain connected across distance, allowing for near-instantaneous information sharing. This has big implications for secure messaging, distributed computing, and advanced imaging systems.
The road to quantum-secured communication
As a test bed, RoQNET is laying the groundwork for a broader quantum communications infrastructure. Researchers plan to expand the network to link with other key institutions across New York State, including Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and New York University.
By doing so, they hope to establish a state-wide quantum backbone that could one day become part of a national or global quantum internet.
The project shows what interdisciplinary collaboration can achieve. The University of Rochester contributed deep expertise in quantum optics, while RIT provided cutting-edge knowledge in photonics and engineering. Together, their efforts pave the way for a more secure and efficient communications future.
As the need for secure data transmission grows in fields ranging from finance to national security, networks like RoQNET represent a glimpse into how quantum technology could reshape the digital landscape.
![Figure 1: Sketch of the evolution of the Universe over the last 13.77 billion years. It started with the Big Bang, followed by an extremely short period of rapid exponential expansion. The furthest we can see is the cosmic microwave background, when radiation decoupled from matter, approximately 380,000 years after the Big Bang. This is followed by the ‘dark ages,’ during which this radiation redshifted from the visible regime into infrared and sub-mm wavelengths. The occurrence of the first stars, about 400 million years after the Big Bang, ended this phase, spearheading the formation of galaxies as we see them today. [Credit: NASA/WMAP Science Team, public domain]](https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fig-1_1200-100x70.jpg "How did the first stars form in space?")
