Silicon Valley giants IBM Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. have set their sights on pioneering the next frontier in technology: the quantum internet. In a recent announcement, the two companies revealed their ambitious plans to collaborate in creating a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum network capable of uniting tens of thousands of qubits to tackle some of humanity’s most intricate challenges.
Targeting a proof-of-concept by 2030, IBM and Cisco aim to demonstrate the ability to entwine qubits from separate quantum computers located in distinct cryogenic environments. This foundational step is essential for achieving the necessary scale in quantum computing, where entanglement—allowing multiple qubits to work together—is paramount. Achieving a fully realized quantum internet is envisioned by the late 2030s, providing ultra-secure communications and sophisticated sensor networks for various applications, including climate monitoring and seismic activity.
Key developments in this endeavor include:
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New Networking Infrastructure: Cisco is crafting a sophisticated hardware and software framework dedicated to maintaining delicate quantum states, distributing entanglement resources, and synchronizing operations with unparalleled precision.
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Quantum Networking Unit (QNU): IBM is focused on creating a QNU that will enable quantum processing units (QPUs) to communicate seamlessly, converting "stationary" quantum information into "flying" data suitable for distribution across the network.
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High-Speed Protocols: Cisco is developing cutting-edge protocol frameworks that allow dynamic reconfiguration of the quantum network to facilitate effective quantum entanglement distribution.
The vision, according to Cisco General Manager Vijoy Pandey, is not just about building more powerful quantum machines but ensuring they work together as a cohesive cluster to amplify their collective processing capabilities. IBM’s roadmap anticipates the creation of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers by the decade’s end, setting the stage for linking multiple machines and achieving their full computational potential.
The collaboration aims to establish a quantum internet comprising thousands of distributed machines, potentially revolutionizing fields through enhanced quantum sensors and communications at a planetary scale. IBM Research Director Jay Gambetta emphasizes that their joint efforts with Cisco aim to expand the computational power of quantum technologies, pushing the boundaries of what these systems can achieve in the coming years.
