Visible-light system uses quantum noise to obscure 100 Mbps transmissions

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Research published in the International Journal of Sensor Networks has demonstrated a visible-light communication system that uses the inherent randomness of quantum noise to make transmitted data harder for hackers to intercept. The experimental system applied encryption directly at the optical, or "physical," layer of the communication system and was able to transmit data at 100 megabits per second (100 Mbps, which is a modest data-transfer speed compared with modern broadband networks, equivalent to mid-1990s Fast Ethernet speeds. Nevertheless, this is a valid initial baseline for a research demonstration and fast enough for a wide variety of applications. Moreover, optical wireless of this kind is emerging as a specialized complement to Wi-Fi and fiber connections for situations with confined coverage and abundant optical spectrum, where immunity to radio interference is essential. It could thus be attractive for settings such as hospitals, aircraft and industrial facilities. Visible-light communication (VLC) uses rapidly modulated light, typically from LEDs, to carry digital information through an open wireless channel. The researchers can convert data into a signal with many possible light-intensity levels and use a shared secret key to determine how the data is represented. Quantum noise, the random fluctuations arising from the fundamental properties of light, is then superimposed onto the signal. When the noise is at a sufficiently high level, a third party lacking the key cannot reliably distinguish between the signal and the noise. The current approach is based on the Y-00 quantum stream cipher, a technique previously demonstrated in fiber-optic communications, and extends the approach to visible-light transmission. The work could address a particular vulnerability in VLC: Unlike data protected only by higher-level network encryption, the optical signal itself remains exposed while in transit. This kind of physical-layer protection could therefore provide an additional security mechanism for optical wireless links in environments where interception is possible. More information Ning Xiao et al, Experimental demonstrations of visible light communication using quantum noise for high security, International Journal of Sensor Networks (2026). DOI: 10.1504/ijsnet.2026.156057