That means the only real success stories so far have been around sending entangled particle information through dedicated channels like standalone fiber optic connections. The new work is a huge deal because it’s the first instance of quantum teleportation going through an existing internet data channel. Once we get there, the difference between the quantum internet and the regular internet is a bit like the difference between the regular internet and smoke signals. Quantum internet will enable applications more powerful that we can even dream of yet, let alone build and deploy. But the Northwestern team’s breakthrough means there will be no need to buy and build a whole new systems of wires, towers, and nodes specifically for quantum data.