Quantum Computing in Wireless Communications and Networking: A Tutorial-cum-Survey

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive tutorial and survey on how quantum computing can be applied to enhance wireless communications and networking, covering fundamentals, applications, and open challenges.

Contribution

It offers an in-depth tutorial on quantum computing fundamentals and explores its emerging applications in wireless communication and networking fields.

Findings

Quantum computing can potentially optimize wireless communication processes.

Applications include security, localization, and video streaming enhancements.

Open issues highlight future research directions.

Abstract

Owing to its outstanding parallel computing capabilities, quantum computing (QC) has been a subject of continuous attention. With the gradual maturation of QC platforms, it has increasingly played a significant role in various fields such as transportation, pharmaceuticals, and industrial manufacturing,achieving unprecedented milestones. In modern society, wireless communication stands as an indispensable infrastructure, with its essence lying in optimization. Although artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms such as Reinforcement Learning (RL) and mathematical optimization have greatly enhanced the performance of wireless communication, the rapid attainment of optimal solutions for wireless communication problems remains an unresolved challenge. QC, however, presents a new alternative. This paper aims to elucidate the fundamentals of QC and explore its applications in wireless communications and networking. First, we will provide a tutorial on QC, covering its basics, characteristics, and popular QC algorithms. Next, we will introduce the applications of QC in communication and networking, followed by its applications in miscellaneous areas such as security and privacy, localization and tracking, and video streaming. Finally,we will discuss remaining open issues before concluding.