Under the streets of New York City, telecom cables are carrying pairs of linked light particles as part of a push to build a more secure internet. Qunnect, a Brooklyn-based startup, has spent years developing hardware to send and manage those particles. The effort signals a new phase for quantum networking in a major urban setting and highlights a race to turn lab science into a real service.
The company’s ambition is clear. It wants to enable communications that reveal any eavesdropper the instant they listen in. That idea rests on quantum physics and has drawn interest from banks, utilities, and public agencies. It also faces technical, economic, and policy hurdles before it can scale.
Cables underneath New York City are teeming with entangled quantum particles of light thanks to Qunnect, a company that has spent a decade working on building an unhackable quantum internet.
Why Quantum Networks Matter
Traditional encryption relies on math problems that take a long time to solve. Quantum computers could speed up those solutions in the future. That risk has driven research into quantum key distribution and entanglement-based links. In both cases, physics helps protect messages. Any attempt to copy or measure a quantum signal changes it. That change can alert network operators.
New York offers an ideal testbed. It has dense fiber routes, many potential users, and tough operating conditions. If a system works here, it can likely work in other cities. The claim of an “unhackable” link is strong. In practice, the goal is to make intrusions detectable and to limit the damage when they occur.
Inside the Technology
Entangled photons behave as a single system, even when separated. Send one particle down a cable and its partner down another. Measure one, and the other’s state is set at once. Networks can use those pairs to share encryption keys or connect future quantum computers.
Running such links over city fiber is hard. Losses grow with distance. Vibration, temperature swings, and bends in cables can disrupt signals. Hardware must produce stable light pulses, store quantum states for short periods, and correct for noise in real time. Companies like Qunnect are trying to solve these issues with devices that work at standard telecom wavelengths and in normal environments.
Promises and Caveats
Security claims depend on the whole system, not just the physics. Attackers often target hardware, software, or people. Quantum links reduce some risks but do not remove them. Experts urge clear standards, independent testing, and open reporting of failures.
- Quantum signals can expose eavesdropping attempts.
- City fiber adds loss and noise that must be managed.
- End-to-end security still requires strong classical defenses.
Market Signals and Policy Questions
Banks and critical infrastructure operators want secure links between data centers and control rooms. Governments see strategic value in homegrown quantum networks. At the same time, budgets are tight, and leaders ask for clear benefits beyond pilot projects. Interoperability will be key so that equipment from different vendors can connect.
Standards bodies and regulators are weighing issues like export controls, privacy rules, and how to certify devices. Insurance and compliance will shape demand. Public funding may help bridge early costs, but long-term success needs reliable service at competitive prices.
What to Watch Next
Several milestones will show whether this field is moving from trials to service. Look for longer city links with consistent uptime. Watch for independent audits of security claims. Track partnerships with carriers that control metro fiber.
Progress will also depend on “quantum repeaters,” a future class of devices that extend range without copying signals. Until then, networks will rely on smart routing, better detectors, and improved light sources to push distance and speed.
Qunnect’s work under New York’s streets illustrates both promise and pressure. If the company and its peers can keep signals stable and prove real-world security, early customers may follow. If not, pilots will remain pilots. For now, the city’s buried cables offer a rare live test. The next year should show whether quantum links can leave the lab and deliver value at scale.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
