Wits University Professor Develops Quantum Laser Technology to Achieve Million-Fold Internet Speed Increase

Professor Andrew Forbes is using quantum technology to create a million-fold increase in Internet speeds. Discover how photon-based encryption is changing security.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 5:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from MyBroadband

Revolutionizing Data Transmission Through Photon Based Channels

Professor Andrew Forbes, a leading expert in laser technology at the University of the Witwatersrand, is spearheading the development of a next generation Internet infrastructure powered by quantum light. The research focuses on utilizing individual photons to facilitate data transmission that is significantly faster and more secure than current fiber optic or Wi-Fi standards. By manipulating light patterns, Forbes envisions a future where lasers can transmit information at speeds thousands or even millions of times faster than today's residential broadband.

Quantum Encryption Offers Theoretically Unbreakable Security

Central to this technological breakthrough is a new approach to cybersecurity known as quantum encryption. Unlike traditional methods that rely on mathematical complexity, quantum encryption uses the fundamental properties of physics to secure data. Forbes explains that it is impossible to copy quantum information without disturbing it; any attempt to intercept a photon "key" immediately alerts both the sender and receiver by altering the photon's state. This provides a self-protecting mechanism that ensures data remains private even against future high speed computing threats.

Successful Global Demonstrations of Quantum Light Links

The practical application of this research has already moved beyond the laboratory. A recent experiment conducted by a former student of Professor Forbes successfully established a quantum light satellite link between South Africa and China, spanning a distance of 13,000 km. These demonstrations show that patterns of light can act as millions of individual channels packed into a single square millimeter of a laser beam, essentially creating a high density "tube" of information for global communication.