ABSTRACT Quantum networks development is crucial to realizing a production‐grade network that can support distributed sensing, secure communication, and utility‐scale quantum computation. However, the transition from laboratory demonstration to deployable networks requires software implementations of architectures and protocols tailored to the unique constraints of quantum systems. This paper reviews the current state of software implementations for quantum networks, organized around a three‐plane abstraction of infrastructure, logical, and control/service planes. We cover software for both designing quantum network protocols (e.g., SeQUeNCe, QuISP, and NetSquid) and operating testbeds, with a focus on essential control/service plane functions such as entanglement, topology, and resource management, in a proposed taxonomy. Our review highlights a persistent gap between theoretical architecture and protocol proposals and their realization in simulators or testbeds, particularly in dynamic topology and network management. We conclude by outlining open challenges and proposing a roadmap for developing scalable software architectures to enable hybrid, large‐scale quantum networks.
ABSTRACT Quantum networks development is crucial to realizing a production‐grade network that can support distributed sensing, secure communication, and utility‐scale quantum computation. However, the transition from laboratory demonstration to deployable networks requires software implementations of architectures and protocols tailored to the unique constraints of quantum systems. This paper reviews the current state of software implementations for quantum networks, organized around a three‐plane abstraction of infrastructure, logical, and control/service planes. We cover software for both designing quantum network protocols (e.g., SeQUeNCe, QuISP, and NetSquid) and operating testbeds, with a focus on essential control/service plane functions such as entanglement, topology, and resource management, in a proposed taxonomy. Our review highlights a persistent gap between theoretical architecture and protocol proposals and their realization in simulators or testbeds, particularly in dynamic topology and network management. We conclude by outlining open challenges and proposing a roadmap for developing scalable software architectures to enable hybrid, large‐scale quantum networks.
Quantum networks are expected to enable distributed quantum computing, secure communication, and global entanglement distribution. However, operating such networks presents significant challenges, including stochastic quantum processes, fragile entanglement resources, dynamic topology, and cross-layer control requirements. Current quantum network control architectures largely rely on centralized or hierarchical controllers inspired by classical software-defined networking (SDN). While effective for small testbeds, these approaches face scalability, latency, and reliability limitations as quantum networks grow.
As quantum networking experiments move from laboratory experiments to larger scale deployments, integrated control software becomes essential for managing complex interactions between the numerous distributed resources involved. While a number of laboratory-scale control systems have been developed for specific quantum platform demonstrations, an openly available and general solution for operating quantum networks has not emerged. With the QUANT-NET Control Plane (QNCP), we introduce a model-based, extensible control plane implementation that offers a framework for enabling network-wide orchestration in quantum information network environments. QCNP provides a quantum network data model, resource management, communication primitives, and a plugin interface for defining orchestration and protocol interactions across distributed quantum network devices and services. This paper describes the design and architecture of QNCP, its implementation, and opportunities for extensibility and deployment.
The realization of the Quantum Internet promises transformative capabilities in secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and high-precision metrology. However, transitioning from laboratory experiments to a scalable, multi-tenant network utility introduces deep orchestration challenges. Current development is often siloed within physics communities, prioritizing hardware, while the classical networking community lacks architectural models to manage fragile quantum resources. This tutorial bridges this divide by providing a network-centric view of quantum networking. We dismantle idealized assumptions in current simulators to address the "simulation-reality gap," recasting them as explicit control-plane constraints. To bridge this gap, we establish Software-Defined Quantum Networking (SDQN) as a prerequisite for scale, prioritizing a symbiotic, dual-plane architecture where classical control dictates quantum data flow. Specifically, we synthesize reference models for SDQN and the Quantum Network Operating System (QNOS) for hardware abstraction, and adapt a Quantum Network Utility Maximization (Q-NUM) framework as a unifying mathematical lens for engineers to reason about trade-offs between entanglement routing, scheduling, and fidelity. Furthermore, we analyze Distributed Quantum AI (DQAI) over imperfect networks as a case study, illustrating how physical constraints such as probabilistic stragglers and decoherence dictate application-layer viability. Ultimately, this tutorial equips network engineers with the tools required to transition quantum networking from a bespoke physics experiment into a programmable, multi-tenant global infrastructure.
Quantum networks are advancing the information technology infrastructure of society. Simulation and emulation software tools have emerged to support the design, development, and deployment of quantum networks, however, classical simulation and emulation methods have major bottlenecks in the error, latency, and cost that they can achieve at scale. In this work, we review quantum network simulation and emulation tools, including foundational principles, state-of-the-art tools, and bottlenecks. We then discuss how quantum technologies can address these challenges, and we construct a roadmap for the adoption of quantum simulation and emulation tools, emphasizing codesign with quantum network testbeds.
ABSTRACT Quantum‐native communication systems are reshaping secure, programmable, and coherence‐aware networking beyond the classical paradigm. As intelligent physical infrastructures, ranging from unmanned aerial vehicle swarms to satellite Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) platforms, demand trust, synchronization, and ultra‐reliability, conventional protocol designs struggle to preserve entanglement and coherence while coordinating control logic across hybrid domains. This paper surveys layered protocol architectures and secure control frameworks designed for post‐6G and emerging 7G+ quantum‐enabled networks. Quantum‐classical hybrid denotes networks in which quantum links used for entanglement distribution or QKD interoperate with classical links and protocols within a unified communication fabric. We develop a taxonomy of the protocol stack, spanning the entanglement‐aware physical layer to the service‐level agreement (SLA)‐driven application layer, and covering representative technologies such as Q‐SDN (quantum software‐defined networking), quantum transmission Control Protocol, hybrid QKD and PQC (post‐quantum cryptography) integration, and intent‐driven orchestration through large language model agents. We revisit security using blockchain‐based trust anchors and fidelity‐aware metadata frameworks, and examine quantum synchronization and teleportation‐resilient session‐control mechanisms for preserving inter‐digital‐twin coherence. Through a broad review of architectural blueprints, protocol proposals, use cases, and simulation‐driven models, this paper positions quantum‐native protocol stacks as a foundation for secure, resilient, and intelligent communication systems.
Quantum networks are advancing the information technology infrastructure of society. Simulation and emulation software tools have emerged to support the design, development, and deployment of quantum networks, however, classical simulation and emulation methods have major bottlenecks in the error, latency, and cost that they can achieve at scale. In this work, we review quantum network simulation and emulation tools, including foundational principles, state-of-the-art tools, and bottlenecks. We then discuss how quantum technologies can address these challenges, and we construct a roadmap for the adoption of quantum simulation and emulation tools, emphasizing codesign with quantum network testbeds.