Project

This report explores quantum communication technologies, emphasizing their role in securing communications against quantum computing threats. It categorizes these technologies into three generations: 1) prepare-and-measure QKD (market-ready but costly); 2) entanglement-based QKD (promising but less mature); and 3) quantum repeaters (essential for long-distance applications but still in development). The analysis draws on recent advancements, publication trends, patents, and market projections, highlighting strong growth potential in sectors like government, defense, and finance. The report also examines challenges and strategies for achieving technological sovereignty, including funding and standardization. It underscores the strategic importance of quantum communication for security and economic competitiveness.

Download Report

Due to advances in quantum computing,  “quantum-safe” encryption methods will be needed in the future to ensure secure communication. Quantum communication could play a crucial role in this. This report gives an overview of the three generations of quantum communication technologies: quantum key distribution following the prepare & measure principle, entanglement-based quantum key distribution and quantum repeaters. The report analyses the developments in research, industrialization, test infrastructure and market, and shows increasing publication and patenting activities. In addition, funding programs in Germany and Europe as well as international strategies for quantum communication are examined. Finally, challenges and measures to secure technological sovereignty in quantum communication are discussed.

Download Monitoring Report

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is considered a promising quantum-safe cryptography technology that could ensure the long-term security of critical data. This report discusses the potential applications of QKD in various sectors, including public administration, the military and defence, banking and finance, utility providers, the medical sector, industry and the QKD service sector. It analyses the framework conditions, regulatory context and requirements for QKD adoption, providing an assessment of adoption in these sectors in the coming years. It also discusses crucial aspects of standardisation, certification and approval, as well as network aspects. Finally, the report discusses applications of quantum communication beyond QKD.

Download Report

With the rise of quantum technologies, quantum information and distributed entanglement could become central resources for entirely novel applications. However, since quantum states cannot be amplified due to the no-cloning theorem, new solutions are required for long-distance quantum communication – one of the most promising approaches being the quantum repeater. This report provides an overview of the current state of research and the future potential of quantum repeaters, drawing on an extensive literature review as well as the assessments of 22 experts from science and industry. It explains the relevant applications (including extending the range of QKD, interconnecting quantum processors, and distributed quantum sensing), the operating principle of iterative entanglement swapping, and the classification of different repeater types and hardware platforms – among them color centers, trapped atoms and ions, atomic ensembles, rare-earth systems, and quantum dots. Based on key performance indicators, the strengths and challenges of each platform are compared. Finally, the report presents a roadmap outlining the current state of the technology, the central challenges for further development, and future milestones on the path toward commercially viable quantum repeaters and a future quantum internet.

Download Report

Single-photon detectors are the decisive component in discrete-variable QKD (DV-QKD), as their performance directly limits the secure key rate, maximum distance, and robustness against noise across fiber, free-space, and satellite links. This report focuses on Silicon Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (Si-SPADs), Indium Gallium Arsenide/Indium Phosphide SPADs (InGaAs/InP-SPADs), and Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs). The study examines the current status, advantages and disadvantages of each technology for different QKD application scenarios. It also identifies key performance indicators, highlights challenges in technology and market adoption, and presents a roadmap for technological development from 2025 to beyond 2040.

Download Report

Since information in QKD is encoded in the quantum states of photons, light sources are essential components of QKD systems, which cansignificantly influence their performance Although most commercially available QKD systems currently rely on mature laser-based technologies, there remains considerable room for improvement and opportunities to adopt diverse, emerging light-source technologies. This study analyzes various light source technologies, including coherent sources, photon-pair generation through Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) and Four-Wave Mixing (FWM), as well as quantum dots and other deterministic sources. It covers the key performance indicators of these light source technologies, their application in QKD, their respective levels of technological maturity, and pathways to industrialization.

Download Report