Led by PAN Jianwei from the CAS University of Science and Technology, an integrated quantum network was set up that combines 700 fiber and two ground-to-satellite links and realized quantum key distribution (QKD) between more than 150 users over a combined distance of 4,600 km.
The network consists of four quantum metropolitan-area networks (QMAN) including Beijing, Jinan, Hefei and Shanghai, a backbone fiber link spanning over 2,000 km, and two ground-satellite links that connect Xinglong ground station in Beijing and Nanshan ground station in northwest China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region, separated by 2,600 km.
In the future, quantum communication will be applied in fields of finance, political affairs and national defense. A whole industry chain and eventually a truly secure quantum internet is foreseen.
Nature volume 589, pages214–219(2021)