Quantum Physics Could Make Networks More Secure, Pai Says

Quantum networks and communications are likely a decade away but have big implications for network security, Chairman Ajit Pai said Tuesday at the FCC’s virtual quantum internet forum. “By applying the laws of quantum physics to make calculations, we’re entering a place we’ve never been before and doing things computers have never done.” Quantum networks could facilitate “distributed quantum computing and giving us a level of computational clout far beyond what is possible with today’s internet,” he said. A quantum-secured communications link “could offer foolproof security for data communication,” Pai said: “If the link has been eavesdropped or tampered with, the sender will know.” Quantum physics “holds the potential to solve pain points in our everyday lives that we may not even recognize,” said Commissioner Brendan Carr. He compared it to moving from 3G to 4G: “Our job is to convene stakeholders to do what we can to help give this transition a better shot of taking place even more quickly.”