A quantum internet is absolutely necessary for creating a useful quantum computer, the same way the internet (LAN) is needed to create a supercomputer. A supercomputer is essentially many computers connected together. A quantum computer that solves problems we care about will be similar: https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.10609.
Still, it seems like what is needed here is more a quantum LAN, or possibly even just an on board interconnect between quantum processors. The focus on wide area quantum networks feels a bit odd.
One application we care about is using quantum computers to build high resolution telescopes https://arxiv.org/abs/1107.2939. A wide area network is required because the telescopes need to be far apart.
