#quantum-networking

#quantum-networking

Cisco aims to "build high-fidelity quantum networks to unlock the potential for large-scale quantum data centers," Kompella told Telecompetitor in an interview. The company is working closely with IBM on the research, with IBM's role focused primarily on the computing side, while Cisco tackles the networking side. Quantum computers use concepts of quantum physics. They're more powerful than traditional non-quantum computers, known in quantum jargon as "classical" computers. But, as of today, there is no way to network quantum computers.

The idea is that there are multiple types of quantum computers that rely on different qubit technologies such as superconducting qubits or photonic qubits. Quantum computers can also have different types of processors and different quantum models. Building large quantum computers with more than 1,000 logical qubits is prohibitively expensive. Relying on a homogeneous qubit infrastructure limits the types of problems a quantum computer can work on, according to solicitation documents.

"Our goal is to marry the benefits of traditional and quantum networking on existing U.S. computing infrastructure and network protocols."