Quantum Internet Alliance Technology Forum (QIATF), the world’s first global quantum internet technology forum initiated and organised by Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA), has officially started its operations with two special interest groups (SIGs) on Space and Telecommunications commencing technical work with their respective members.

QIA Director Stephanie Wehner and European Commission Head of Quantum Computing Oscar Diez officially kicked off the QIATF in a gathering that took place at the sidelines of the Inside Quantum Technology 2024 in the Netherlands with a majority of QIATF founding and new members present.

Diez, who welcomed the members during the kick-off, noted:

“This forum opens a gateway to transformative opportunities in quantum internet development. And by joining this forum, you are part of a vibrant community pushing the boundaries of technology alongside leading experts from industry, academia and beyond.”

QIATF is an open forum that focuses on technical knowledge exchange – with pioneering, forward-thinking stakeholders committed and dedicated to the quantum internet technology development, to building and broadening of the global quantum internet ecosystem towards its commercial deployment.

“Through efforts like the QIATF, we contribute not only to the technological advancements but also to the essential frameworks that will govern the use of these technologies globally,” Diez added.

The QIA technology forum has generated significant interest from various organizations across the globe. New members include Eurofiber, Qunnect, Juniper, QTLabs, Single Quantum, Proximus, Speqtral to mention a few.

The QIATF activities are organised in Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These are dynamic groups addressing specific technical area(s) of interest to QIA and QIATF members.

“SIGs are a crucial aspect of QIATF’s work, providing a valuable platform for quantum internet stakeholders worldwide to engage with the consortium and share their insights. This interaction not only keeps stakeholders informed about QIA’s technological developments, ensuring they are prepared for implementation, but also considers their specific requirements,”

Thales Alenia Space director for research, development and product policy Mathias van den Bossche highlighted.

Driven by two Founding Core Members, QIATF started with two SIGs: 1. SIG SPACE dedicated to the connection of terrestrial and space links led by Thales Alenia Space; and 2. SIG TELECOM on NETWORK OPERATIONS dedicated to the integration of quantum internet in classical telecommunication networks led by TIM.

Members of the QIATF SIGs have already conducted their first working meetings where they discussed their motivation for participating in the SIG and established the working procedures and the workplan going forward. Follow-up meetings are also now in the pipeline.

Aside from getting involved in the activities of the SIGs they are involved in, members are also encouraged to participate in trainings, workshops and conferences organised by the QIATF.