Quantum Internet Technologies for Secure Next-Generation Communication Systems: A Taxonomy, Comparative Analysis, and Future Research Roadmap

Abstract: The Quantum Internet has emerged as a promising paradigm for next-generation communication systems by enabling secure transmission, distributed quantum computing, and intelligent networking beyond the capabilities of conventional communication technologies. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of Quantum Internet technologies, focusing on their communication principles, network infrastructure, security mechanisms, and application domains. A structured taxonomy is proposed to classify the major technological components, followed by a comparative analysis of key quantum communication protocols and supporting network architectures. The paper further examines important application areas, including secure communications, financial services, healthcare, smart grids, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. In addition, critical challenges such as scalability, quantum repeaters, quantum memory, interoperability, and standardization are discussed along with emerging research trends and future development opportunities. By synthesizing recent advances, identifying existing research gaps, and presenting a future research roadmap, this review provides valuable insights into the evolution of Quantum Internet technologies and their potential to realize secure, scalable, and intelligent next-generation communication systems.

Keywords: Quantum Internet, Quantum Communication, Quantum Networks, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Next-Generation Communication Systems, Taxonomy, Comparative Analysis, Research Gaps, Future Research Roadmap.