Quantum Communication (2026): Teleportation, Satellites & Standards

What Is Quantum Communication?

Quantum communication sends quantum states, typically single photons, between separated parties. It underpins quantum key distribution for secret keys, quantum teleportation for moving quantum states using entanglement, and the entanglement distribution needed to link quantum computers and sensors. Because photons are lost in fibre and quantum states cannot be copied or amplified, long distances call for trusted nodes, quantum repeaters or satellite links. This page lists foundational papers, satellite and free-space milestones, national programmes and institutes, and standards, and points to the sibling directories on this site for quantum key distribution and the quantum internet.

Foundational Papers & Reviews

7 entries

Core theory and review papers on quantum teleportation, entanglement-based protocols and repeaters.

01Teleporting an Unknown Quantum State via Dual Classical and EPR Channels (Bennett et al.)The 1993 Physical Review Letters paper that introduced quantum teleportation. 02Quantum Cryptography Based on Bell's Theorem (Ekert)Ekert's 1991 entanglement-based key distribution protocol. 03Experimental Quantum Teleportation (Nature)Nature paper reporting an experimental demonstration of quantum teleportation. 04Quantum Communication (Gisin and Thew)Review of quantum communication, including key distribution, entanglement and quantum repeaters. 05Fundamental Limits of Repeaterless Quantum Communications (Pirandola et al.)Upper bound on the rate of quantum communication over a lossy channel without repeaters. 06When Entanglement Meets Classical Communications: Quantum Teleportation for the Quantum InternetPaper that treats quantum teleportation from a communications-engineering viewpoint. 07Quantum Repeaters Based on Atomic Ensembles and Linear Optics (Sangouard et al.)Review of quantum repeater schemes built on atomic ensembles and linear optics.

Satellite & Free-Space Links

5 entries

Long-distance quantum links through space and free-space optical channels.

08Satellite-to-ground Quantum Key Distribution (Nature)Nature paper reporting QKD between a satellite and ground stations. 09Satellite-Based Entanglement Distribution over 1200 Kilometers (arXiv)Paper reporting entanglement distribution from a satellite to two ground stations over 1,200 km. 10Ground-to-satellite Quantum Teleportation (Nature)Nature paper reporting the teleportation of a photonic qubit from a ground station to a satellite. 11An Integrated Space-to-ground Quantum Communication Network over 4,600 Kilometres (Nature)Nature paper on a network that combines fibre links with satellite-to-ground links. 12ESA Eagle-1ESA's European satellite QKD mission; ESA's page lists its launch for late 2027.

Programmes & Institutes

7 entries

Public programmes and research centres working on quantum communication.

13European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI)European Commission initiative for a secure quantum communication infrastructure across the EU. 14Quantum FlagshipEuropean research programme for quantum technologies, including quantum communication. 15National Quantum Mission (India)Indian government mission on quantum technologies, run by the Department of Science and Technology. 16UK Quantum Communications HubUK research hub for quantum communications technologies. 17NICT Quantum ICT LaboratoryJapan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology laboratory for quantum ICT. 18QuTechDelft research institute for quantum computing and quantum internet. 19QuTech AcademyQuTech's learning platform for quantum technology.

Standards

4 entries

Specifications and study groups covering quantum key distribution and quantum networks.

20ETSI Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)ETSI committee page for QKD specifications. 21ITU-T Y.3800: Networks Supporting Quantum Key DistributionITU-T recommendation giving an overview of networks that support QKD. 22ITU-T Focus Group on Quantum Information Technology for Networks (FG-QIT4N)ITU-T focus group page on quantum information technology for networks. 23IRTF Quantum Internet Research Group (QIRG)Research group of the Internet Research Task Force working on quantum internet architecture and protocols.

5 entries

Related directories on this site.

24Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)Quantum key distribution resources: protocols, research, standards, space links and vendors. 25Quantum InternetQuantum internet resources: foundational papers, experimental milestones, standards, research programmes and simulators. 26Quantum CryptographyQuantum cryptography resources: quantum key distribution, post-quantum cryptography and standards. 27Quantum Random Number GeneratorsQuantum random number generator resources. 28QKD CompaniesDirectory of quantum key distribution companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is quantum communication?

Quantum communication is the transmission of quantum states, usually of photons, between distant places. It supports quantum key distribution, teleportation, entanglement distribution and the links of a future quantum internet.

How does quantum communication differ from quantum key distribution?

Quantum key distribution is one application of quantum communication. It shares a secret key. Quantum communication more broadly also covers teleporting quantum states and distributing entanglement, which are needed to connect quantum computers and sensors.

What is quantum teleportation?

Quantum teleportation moves an unknown quantum state from one place to another using shared entanglement and a classical message. It does not move matter, and it cannot carry information faster than light because the classical message is still required.

How far can quantum communication reach?

Photon loss in optical fibre limits direct links, and the PLOB bound sets a ceiling on the rate of repeaterless links. Quantum repeaters and trusted nodes extend the range, and satellites have distributed entanglement over 1,200 km and linked a network spanning 4,600 km.

Which standards cover quantum communication?

ETSI publishes specifications for quantum key distribution, ITU-T Recommendation Y.3800 describes networks that support it, and the IRTF Quantum Internet Research Group works on quantum internet architecture. Standards for entanglement-based networks are still at an early stage.