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

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 provide a tutorial on QC, covering its basics, characteristics, and popular QC algorithms. Next, we introduce the applications of QC in communications and networking, followed by its applications in miscellaneous areas such as security and privacy, localization and tracking, and video streaming. Finally, we discuss remaining open issues before concluding.