INTO THE FUTURE: Quantum Technologies and the Impact on the Resilience of the Subsea Cable System
DEVON A. JOHNSON, Junior Sector Specialist at Red Penguin Marine.
Quantum technology is poised to revolutionize industries across the globe, including telecommunications and subsea fiber-optic cable systems—the backbone of the internet and global economy. Subsea cables, responsible for carrying over 96% of digital traffic and $10 trillion in daily financial transactions, are critical to modern communication and connectivity. With the emergence of quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum sensing, this infrastructure may see significant advancements and challenges.
Key Areas of Impact:
- Capacity Enhancements with Quantum Computing
Quantum computers, leveraging their superior computational power, could potentially increase the capacity of subsea cables. This could enable a single cable system to transmit significantly more data, meeting the growing demands of AI and global connectivity. However, the technology's infancy and its applicability to subsea systems remain under scrutiny. - Secure Communications via Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
Quantum communications promise a paradigm shift in data security. QKD can make subsea cable systems virtually immune to eavesdropping by using quantum mechanics to encrypt information. This technology could protect sensitive data from espionage, particularly as traditional encryption methods become vulnerable to quantum decryption. - Improved Monitoring with Quantum Sensing
Quantum sensing technologies could transform subsea cable monitoring by enabling accurate detection of environmental changes, underwater seismic activity, and potential threats like fishing trawls or sabotage. By integrating quantum sensors into cable systems, proactive fault prediction and faster response times for repairs could enhance resilience.
Challenges and Considerations:
While quantum technologies hold great promise, their full-scale deployment in subsea cable systems faces hurdles. Quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, and transitioning to quantum-enabled cable networks would require extensive infrastructure upgrades. Moreover, the rise of satellite-based quantum communication systems poses a potential challenge to subsea cable dominance.
Though still in its nascent stages, quantum technology offers transformative possibilities for enhancing the resilience, security, and efficiency of subsea fiber-optic cables. As research and development progress, the integration of these technologies could redefine the future of global connectivity. However, achieving this vision requires continued innovation and collaboration across industries.
This is just the beginning, as Alan Turing famously said, “only a foretaste of what is to come.” The journey of quantum’s impact on subsea infrastructure has only just begun.
To read the complete article, check out Issue 139 of the Sub Tel Forum Magazinehere
