New Fiber Optic Technology Could Revolutionize Quantum Interaction & Internet Speeds
Innsbruck,Austria – September 2,2025 – Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in fiber optic technology,successfully transmitting single-photon pulses of visible-spectrum light – crucial for quantum communication – through hollow-core fibers. This growth overcomes a major hurdle in the field, as standard optical fibers are typically optimized for infrared “telecom wavelengths” around 1.5 micrometers.
The new technique utilizes hollow-core fibers, which allow visible light to travel with minimal loss. This is a critical advancement as single-photon pulses in the visible spectrum are commonly used in emerging quantum-communication systems. Previously, the high cost of these specialized fibers has limited their use even in laboratory settings.
“This result is very engaging for the quantum communication community,” says Tracy Northup, an experimental physicist at the University of Innsbruck. “Until now, hollow fibers have been prohibitively expensive even for small-scale laboratory experiments. We in the research community can hope that scaled-up production may bring prices down significantly in the future.”
The development promises not only advancements in secure quantum communication but also potential for faster internet speeds. While current fiber optic internet relies on infrared light, utilizing visible light could theoretically increase bandwidth and data transmission rates.
The research represents a key step towards more accessible and efficient quantum networks and potentially a new generation of ultra-fast internet infrastructure.
