My first mobile phone at work was a 1992 Motorola Solutions DYNATAC 8000F, it was as heavy as a brick with an aerial like a breadstick strapped to the side. It only worked outside the office, not inside, and anytime you went more than 1 meter from town the signal would drop.
If I tried upgrade my old brick phone from the 90s to a 5g smartphone by simply painting it silver - that wouldn’t work.
Likewise the 6G networks that are looking set to roll out in the 2030s won’t just be faster. They’ll be a whole different animal: ultra-fast, ultra-smart, and ultra-secure.
Unfortunately the tech we’ve been using (good ol’ classical computing) isn’t enough anymore.
Luckily for us quantum technology - the superhero science that’s about to change everything from your mobile phone to global security is moving forward at a blistering pace and will almost certainly pay a big part in our communications future.
What’s Wrong With Today’s Networks?
Today’s 5G networks already feel like magic - you can download a movie in seconds or video call your mum from the other-side of the world without glitching.
But looking ahead, 5G simply won’t cut it.
6G will need to:
Connect billions more devices including the ever, think about all of the IOT devices, robotics, drones now all communicating over the futures 6G.
Deliver holograms and real-time teleportation experiences (no, really)
Real-time holographic communication is expected to be one of the “hero” applications of 6G. Instead of just seeing a flat 2D video (like Zoom or FaceTime), you’ll see a full 3D live hologram of the person, like a tiny Star Wars-style projection.
Companies like Samsung and Nokia have already started early work on this.
“Teleportation Experiences” part:
No, you’re not actually teleporting your body across town (sorry, still need legs for that).
It means ultra-immersive experiences where it feels like you’re physically in a different location — because the 6G network sends holographic video.
It’s called “holoportation” — Microsoft and others have already demonstrated early versions of this over 5G, but 6G will make it instantaneous and truly life-like.
6 G networks will need to be so fast and reliable that even a self-driving ambulance won’t crash mid-drive.
The problem?
Classical computers, the ones we use today, just aren’t fast or clever enough to handle all of that.
Quantum to the Rescue
Quantum technologies bring three big cards to the playing hand of 6G:
Superposition: One particle can be in multiple states at once. (Like being asleep and awake at the same time. Which is handy for Zoom calls.
Entanglement: Two particles stay connected even when they’re miles apart. (Kind of like identical twins finishing each other’s sentences.)
Interference: They can ‘nudge’ probabilities to make the right answer more likely.
With these powers combined, quantum computing can tackle certain types problems that would take a normal computer longer than the lifetime of the universe.
Not ideal if you’re trying to upload a holographic TikTok of your last meal.
European leaders like IQM Quantum Computers Alice & Bob and others stand to benefit from the investment in 6G.
How Quantum Will Boost 6G
Here’s what happens when you let quantum loose on next-gen networks:
- Faster Speeds: Quantum processors will make decisions so fast that your holographic Zoom call will feel smoother than butter on a warm crumpet.
- Unbreakable Security: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) offers encryption that’s literally un-hackable is unless you can rewrite the laws of physics. Of course nothing is unbreakable even in Quantum Communications just ask the team over at QuDef they provide threat analysis for Quantum Networks and they are a busy bunch.
- Smarter Networks: Quantum AI will help networks manage themselves and potentially allow us to reach that “Self Healing” panacea that IT Ops has been seeking for the last 40 years - no human engineers needed poking around in server rooms. See Quantum for IT Operations.
- Stronger Signals Everywhere: From underwater to outer space, 6G will be global thanks to quantum-enhanced satellites.
Find out more about Quantum Secure Communications Technology at Quantum Security Defence
The Challenges (Because Nothing is Ever Easy)
Of course, quantum isn’t a free lunch. There are still big problems to solve, including:
- Tech is Still Young: Building quantum devices that actually work at scale outside of a lab is on the way but not here yet. But we soon will be, certainly by 2030 Alice and Bob expect Quantum be delivering usefulness at scale.
- Standards Are Missing: Right now, there’s no global rulebook for how quantum tech should slot into networks, different groups are pulling it together but there is no “standard” as such.
- Costs Are Eye-Watering: Setting up quantum gear today is not cheap, we are talking millions not hundreds of thousands.
- Energy and Stability: Quantum systems are so sensitive that they have lots of errors. We are reinventing ECC for Quantum.
Still, progress is moving fast - and lots of clever folks are working on ways to make quantum reliable, affordable, and robust enough for real-world use.
What Happens Next?
To bring this vision to life, we’ll need to:
- Develop hybrid quantum-classical systems (so old and new tech work together without fighting like siblings). Hybrid systems are all the rage these days - using AI to improve Quantum.
- Invent better error correction methods (so quantum systems don’t crash when a butterfly flaps its wings)
- Build quantum satellites to beam encrypted data across the globe
- Train AI systems using quantum machine learning (because why not teach a robot to quantum too?)
Already, major global projects are underway, and the quantum computing industry alone is expected to boom to over £115 billion by 2032.
Why Should You Care?
Because quantum isn’t just for scientists in lab coats anymore. It’s about:
- Ultra-private banking transactions
- Super-realistic virtual meetings (yes, you’ll feel like you’re in the room)
- Faster medical breakthroughs (quantum simulations could speed up drug discovery)
- Smarter cities, greener energy, safer transport
In short: quantum will quietly change everything behind the scenes. And if businesses, governments, and tech leaders don’t jump on this train, they’ll be left stuck on the platform.
In Summary
Quantum technologies aren’t just a cool science project. They’re about to become the very heart and soul of how we communicate, secure data, and live smarter lives with 6G.
It’s not a question of if. It’s only a question of how fast we can make this mind-bending leap from today’s smartphones to tomorrow’s quantum-powered world.
Buckle up. The future is arriving faster than you can say “entangled photons.”
