Global efforts are currently in progress to develop prototypes for quantum networks, with the goal of realizing the quantum Internet. In this presentation, I will explore the fundamental design considerations for the quantum Internet. To address this question, I will delve into two distinct visions: 1- A unified classical-quantum Internet enabled through packet-switching. 2- Building an optical grid for entanglement distribution, effectively transforming the classical Internet into the quantum Internet. I will conclude by examining the economic aspects of building quantum networks using satellites versus optical fibers.

Alireza Shabani is a scientist and entrepreneur who recently established a quantum lab for Cisco Systems. Prior to that, he founded Qulab, a pharmaceutical startup leveraging AI to automate drug design. He was also a senior scientist at Google Quantum AI Lab. His research has been at the intersection of quantum physics, engineering, and biology. He holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California and was a postdoctoral scholar at Princeton University and UC-Berkeley.