Elvira Eberhardt | Uni Ulm
Quantenkommunikation-Teststrecke Ulm

Opening of two Quantum Commu­ni­ca­tion Test Tracks

January 27, 2025 – Pioneer­ing Research in Baden-Württemberg

Opening of two Quantum Commu­ni­ca­tion Test Tracks

Baden-Württemberg is position­ing itself as Germany’s leading location for quantum commu­ni­ca­tion technolo­gies. With the opening of two impor­tant test tracks in Karlsruhe and Ulm, a decisive step has been taken towards realiz­ing the poten­tial of quantum commu­ni­ca­tion and quantum networks.

On January 22, 2025, the Karlsruhe Insti­tute of Technol­ogy (KIT) inaugu­rated a 20-kilometer-long fiber optic test line that connects specially equipped labora­to­ries on the South and North campuses. The track will enable researchers to develop and test quantum key distri­b­u­tion technolo­gies based on physi­cal laws to ensure eavesdropping-proof commu­ni­ca­tion. The test track is a central infra­struc­ture of the Cluster of Excel­lence initia­tive “Chem4Quant” and supports the research on quantum repeaters, which are essen­tial for the devel­op­ment of a future quantum internet.

Glasfaser-Teststrecke am KIT
The fiber optic test track is an impor­tant platform for quantum research and connects Campus South and Campus North at KIT. (Copyright: KIT)

At the same time, the Univer­sity of Ulm, in cooper­a­tion with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), put a 2.5‑kilometer quantum key distri­b­u­tion link into opera­tion on Febru­ary 27, 2025. This link, the first between a univer­sity and a non-university insti­tu­tion in Baden-Württemberg, enables the secure trans­mis­sion of infor­ma­tion using quantum keys. The project benefits from DLR’s exper­tise in optical commu­ni­ca­tions and quantum comput­ing and repre­sents a signif­i­cant step towards the practi­cal appli­ca­tion of quantum-based encryp­tion techniques.

Mitwirkende und Gäste der Vorführung der Quantum Key Distribution-Teststrecke
Partic­i­pants and guests at the demon­stra­tion of the Quantum Key Distri­b­u­tion test track (Copytight: Elvira Eberhardt | Uni Ulm)

Both test tracks are an integral part of the innova­tion strat­egy of the state’s QuantumBW initia­tive. The planned connec­tion of the test tracks via the Univer­sity of Stuttgart will create a statewide network that will drive the quantum revolu­tion in Baden-Württemberg. This strate­gic devel­op­ment strength­ens the region as a leading location for quantum research and appli­ca­tions and helps to increase security in areas such as medicine, finance and politics.

With these initia­tives, Baden-Württemberg under­scores its role as a pioneer in quantum commu­ni­ca­tion and offers researchers a unique platform for research and devel­op­ment of cutting-edge quantum technologies.

Further infor­ma­tion

Quantenkommunikation-Teststrecke Ulm
Elvira Eberhardt | Uni Ulm

Press release of the Univer­sity of Ulm
Mitwirkende und Gäste der Vorführung der Quantum Key Distribution-Teststrecke
Elvira Eberhardt | Uni Ulm

Press release of DLR
Glasfaser-Teststrecke am KIT
KIT

Press release ofKIT