The Hub is aiming to develop quantum network technologies that enable secure medium- to long-distance quantum communication in fibre networks spanning more than two adjacent nodes. The objectives are: (i) practical multi-user entanglement distribution and repeater-enabling quantum technology for eventual deployment to the UKQN; (ii) development of practical protocols based on complex network topologies, realised e.g., via medium-sized photonic clusters; (iii) network-layer systems engineering related to up-time, interoperability of inhomogeneous sub-system components, loss and noise resilience, inter-node synchronization and traffic management. All this work provides steps towards the longer term goal of a future quantum internet.
