While the idea of “teleporting people” remains science fiction, quantum information teleportation has just taken a remarkably practical step in a network that’s not in a lab. Deutsche Telekom, through its R&D division T-Labs, and the specialized company Qunnect have announced a demonstration of quantum teleportation over commercial fiber optics in Berlin, conducted in an operational environment and coexisting with classical data traffic. The result: an average fidelity of 90% over a 30-kilometer stretch of deployed fiber, with peaks reaching 95%, according to preliminary data shared by the companies.
The news is less about “teleportation exists”—quantum physics has demonstrated this phenomenon for decades—than about achieving it with commercial hardware, installed in racks and under operator control, in a real metropolitan network, with all its interference, ambient noise, and “normal” surprises. In industry terms: an experiment that aims to bridge academic demonstration and potential deployable service.
What (and what not) quantum teleportation is
Quantum teleportation does not mean sending a particle from one point to another like express shipping. What is “teleported” is the quantum state: the most delicate information of a quantum system. To do this, a key resource is used: shared quantum entanglement previously established between sender and receiver. Instead of physically transporting the qubit through the fiber, the system “recreates” an identical state at the destination via a protocol combining entanglement and classical communication support.
This distinction makes teleportation a fundamental building block of the future “quantum internet”: if quantum states can be moved reliably between nodes, it opens the door to connecting quantum computers, quantum sensors, or atomic clocks within a network—something that still sounds more like a promise than a product today.
An experiment with buried and aerial fiber, and a familiar obstacle: the environment
The tests were conducted in January 2026 over a 30 km loop of commercial fiber in Berlin, connecting T-Labs’ quantum lab with a node in the operator’s metropolitan testbed. The central element was the Carina platform from Qunnect, a distribution setup for entanglement that includes a pair of entangled photon generators and, most importantly, a polarization compensation system to correct for environmental-induced noise.
This nuance is crucial to understanding why such tests often stall outside labs: deployed city fibers experience temperature changes, vibrations, mechanical variations, and degradations affecting optical parameters. Real-world environments don’t guarantee stability; they require engineering solutions. The achievement here is that the system was designed to withstand these conditions while maintaining a high fidelity level.
90% average fidelity: why that number matters
In classical telecommunications, “90%” might sound like an alarm. In quantum protocols, it’s a different story: fidelity measures how closely the recreated state matches the original. Maintaining high values over time and distance—and alongside classical traffic—is what distinguishes a curiosity from a building block for future networks.
Deutsche Telekom presents it as a milestone toward operational quantum networks. Its technology and product head, Abdu Mudesir, summarized it as: the company’s fiber is now “quantum ready,” having demonstrated quantum information transmission “beyond the lab” and with high precision in a real infrastructure.
From Qunnect’s CTO Mael Flament, the same idea is viewed from an industrial angle: making teleportation modules that can operate “within a real network, in racks, and under operator control” is what turns this research into something future providers might deploy.
A technical detail with fine print: 795 nm
Another point highlighted by the teams is the wavelength used for teleportation: 795 nm. It might seem trivial, but it’s relevant because it aligns with multiple quantum platforms, such as neutral-atom quantum computers, atomic clocks, and various quantum sensors. Simply put: this is not just an optical demo; it’s an attempt to speak the “physical language” of quantum technologies aiming to connect to telecom networks.
From lab to city: what’s next
The partners have already outlined the next step: expanding the experiment into multi-node teleportation configurations, increasing distance and complexity to approach a metropolitan network with multiple hops. This is the real frontier separating good headlines from useful networks: moving from controlled links to a mesh of multiple nodes, more interference, and greater synchronization needs.
The technical results have been published in a scientific paper on arXiv, enabling the community to review methodology, measurements, and limitations in detail.
Industrial echo: Cisco also tests similar hardware in New York
The Berlin demonstration comes during an especially active week for “quantum networking” among telcos and large providers. Reuters reported a test in New York between Cisco and Qunnect on existing fiber between Brooklyn and Manhattan, focused on operating a quantum network in real urban conditions. Simultaneously, Tom’s Hardware, citing Deutsche Telekom, noted that Cisco used similar hardware and processes to connect data centers in New York—a sign that this technology is beginning to circulate among operators and major infrastructure players.
Without turning it into a product yet, the core message is clear: the sector aims to demonstrate that future quantum networks won’t require tearing down half the planet to re-cable it but will be able to rely—at least partly—on existing fiber infrastructure.
MWC Barcelona 2026: quantum teleportation takes the stage
Deutsche Telekom is already bringing this topic to the public agenda of MWC Barcelona 2026 (March 2–5). The company announced a demo at its booth and a panel featuring Deutsche Telekom, Qunnect, and the Dresden University of Technology on March 3, from 15:30 to 16:00 (CET). The session will focus on how telecom networks can provide “quantum resources” like entanglement. It’s a classic move: when technology leaves the lab and goes into racks, the next step is to show it to customers, partners, and regulators.
Are we already at “quantum internet”?
Not yet. But we’re at a point that often makes the difference in network tech: when a protocol no longer depends on perfect conditions and proves it can survive in real infrastructure. Less epic in tone and more telecom-focused: Berlin has served as a proving ground that quantum teleportation can coexist with the physical reality of a city.
And that, for an industry used to “experimental” tech sitting in drawers for years, is already a significant milestone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to achieve quantum teleportation over commercial fiber in Berlin?
It means the teleportation protocol has been tested outside labs, using city-deployed fiber, commercial hardware, and under operator control—moving closer to deployment in real networks.
What is “fidelity” in quantum teleportation, and why is 90% important?
Fidelity measures how closely the recreated quantum state matches the original. High fidelity indicates the “teleported” state retains enough integrity for applications like quantum computing networks, quantum cryptography, or networked sensors.
Why is the 795 nm wavelength relevant in this test?
Because 795 nm is considered compatible with various quantum platforms, including neutral-atom quantum computers, atomic clocks, and quantum sensors—facilitating future interconnections.
When will this be used to connect quantum computers between data centers?
It’s still in the experimental stage. The next steps involve expanding to multi-node configurations and longer distances to evaluate deployment prospects and use cases in metropolitan networks.