Networking the quantum internet, featuring Noel Goddard of Qunnect

Tough Tech Today with Meyen and Miller

Under New York City lies a patchwork of long-dormant dark fibers that are now illuminating with entangled rubidium atoms.

In our conversation with Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect, we learn about the tough tech testbed named GothamQ. Qunnect is pioneering the future of the telecom industry by transforming existing fiber optics into quantum networks, providing a robust, secure communication channel for the next evolution of the digital age.

Qunnect’s rubidium-based networking devices promise to safeguard communications against eavesdropping by ensuring that any attempts at interception destroy the transmitted message. This makes digital communications that are provably secure, and is gaining attention as a key component of a layered approach to quantum networking solutions that meet the needs of clients ranging from enterprise players to government agencies.

“We work in atomic vapor,” Goddard says, “we use the same vapor that they [atomic clocks for Global Positioning Systems] do. What's nice about it is that atoms are the same everywhere in the universe, so whether it's outer space, underwater, on a mountain… atoms provide a very high precision reference tool.” Quantum networking protocols require sophisticated levels of precision “which has never been seen by normal digital communications”, adding that “atoms offer a very interesting way to do that because of this ability to locally reference them” at scale. Qunnect’s networking hardware is a physical manifestation of decades of basic and applied research into quantum physics, information theory, and optics, with the GothamQ test site as the next evolution in the broadening deployment of their hardware portfolio composed of quantum sources, quantum memory, wavelength referencers, and more.

In a candid moment, Goddard acknowledges the unique challenges facing quantum science startups, including the need for substantial capital investment and the patience to develop highly complex and sensitive technologies. However, she remains optimistic about the future, highlighting the growing interest and support from government and corporate investors willing to take long-term bets on tough tech innovations.

Goddard reflects on the broader implications of quantum security. By providing a fundamentally secure communication method, Qunnect isn’t just advancing technology but also safeguarding economic and national security in an increasingly digital world.
P.S. If you're in the Boston-Cambridge area this fall, check out JMill's Tough Tech On Tap, presented by The End Effector!

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📺Watch on YouTube

🧠Relevant Links:

• Episode homepage
• Noel Goddard on LinkedIn
• Qunnect homepage

👏Credit Roll:

• Producers: Jonathan 'JMill' Miller and Forrest Meyen
• Guest: Noel Goddard
• Host: JMill
• Editing: JMill
• Transcript: JMill
• Blog Author: JMill
• Art Design: JMill

Chapitres

1. Introduction to quantum networking (00:00:00)

2. Meet Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect (00:01:13)

3. The evolution of Qunnect (00:01:55)

4. Challenges and market fit in quantum networking (00:03:19)

5. Quantum networking technologies and their use cases (00:05:30)

6. Tech dive: quantum entanglement and photons (00:06:53)

7. Building a quantum network: GothamQ (00:18:01)

8. Global perspectives on quantum networking (00:21:33)

9. Dr. Goddard's academic and professional journey (00:31:05)

10. A future for quantum technologies and how to be educated for them (00:37:31)

11. Concluding thoughts, staying tough (00:49:41)