New Mexico has officially activated ABQ-Net, the first open-access entanglement-based quantum network in the United States. Developed by Brooklyn-based Qunnect in partnership with Roadrunner Venture Studios, the network is a central pillar of the state's $450 million investment in quantum technology. The project aims to provide a real-world testbed for companies to validate quantum protocols without the need for massive capital expenditure on internal infrastructure.

The inaugural cohort of users includes Infleqtion, Aliro Technologies, Tensora, and Bandelier Technologies. These firms will utilize the network’s metropolitan fiber pathways to test various applications. Infleqtion plans to integrate atomic clocks with entangled photons to validate precise timing synchronization for missile defense, while Aliro Technologies will demonstrate real-time, physics-based secure key generation (QKD).

ABQ-Net’s initial nodes link Qunnect's downtown Albuquerque facility with the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), a Department of Energy site. Future expansion plans include connections to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the University of New Mexico. The network utilizes Qunnect’s proprietary Carina generation hardware, which allows for stable entanglement distribution over existing telecommunications fiber at room temperature.

Rob Black, New Mexico’s Secretary of Economic Development, noted that the state is already seeing companies relocate to the region specifically to access this unique infrastructure. By positioning Albuquerque as a hub for quantum networking, New Mexico hopes to lead the development of the 'Quantum Internet' and enhance national security through advanced cryptographic solutions.