The University of Illinois’ Office of the CIO, in collaboration with the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center, has played a pivotal role in the development of the Public Quantum Network—the first publicly accessible quantum network. Launched in November 2023, the first node of this groundbreaking initiative was made available at The Urbana Free Library, providing hands-on access to quantum technology for the broader community.
(To the left) The interactive Public Quantum Network exhibit at the Urbana Free Library. A wall display discusses the history of quantum technology. Three stations engage visitors in activities about superposition (left), entanglement (left of center), and measurements on the network to perform the Bell test (right).
Photo and caption courtesy of Applied Physics Lettering.
The Office of the CIO has actively supported this initiative, leveraging multiple teams within Technology Services to facilitate the network’s infrastructure and implementation. Through dedicated technical expertise and logistical coordination, the Office of the CIO has helped bridge cutting-edge quantum research with real-world accessibility.
A critical part of implementing the Public Quantum Network is its fiber-optic infrastructure, enabling high-speed, reliable connections between quantum nodes. Technology Services’ Chris Skaar, lead network engineer, and Matthew Ward, IT technical associate, collaborated with Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center to provide and install the necessary fiber-optic cabling. This included integrating fiber into campus buildings, connecting labs to the university’s central fiber backbone and coordinating with i3 Broadband to establish a stable link to The Urbana Free Library.
“The Office of the CIO provided us the freedom to expand the campus’ research initiatives,” Skaar and Ward said. Skaar and Ward work for Technology Services, the IT service arm of the Office of the CIO.
Additional support came from Technology Services’ Plant Engineering team, which designed fiber connections linking key research facilities—including Loomis Laboratory and the Engineering Sciences Building—to campus’ central fiber backbone. Additionally, the Infrastructure Installation and Maintenance team ensured proper fiber installation and certification, laying the foundation for future network expansion.
The Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center hopes to extend the Public Quantum Network by implementing more nodes in other public spaces, too. Tech Services will continue to have a hand in this.
“There are more sites around the city that are being considered to expand this project. Tech Services will assist the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center group in finding the fiber paths to other sites…. we are also working with them to provide fiber to testing sites in Rantoul and Kankakee, Illinois, with the eventual goal of linking up with the Chicago Quantum Exchange,” Skaar and Ward shared.
Applied Physics Lettering has published a research publication about the work these groups are doing to pave the way for greater and wider use of the Public Quantum Network.