IBM and Cisco Plan Quantum-Linked Data Centre Network

IBM and Cisco have announced plans to develop a distributed quantum computing network that would interlink large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum systems within and across data centres. 

The companies aim to demonstrate the first proof-of-concept within five years, with a longer-term goal of building the foundations for a quantum computing internet in the 2030s.

Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow, says: “At IBM, our roadmap includes plans to deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers before the end of the decade. 

“By working with Cisco to explore how to link multiple quantum computers like these together into a distributed network, we will pursue how to further scale quantum's computational power. And as we build the future of compute, our vision will push the frontiers of what quantum computers can do within a larger high-performance computing architecture.”

Quantum systems designed for data centre integration

IBM’s roadmap positions future quantum processing units as shared resources that can be housed in data centres and connected over short distances through dedicated quantum networking hardware. 

The new collaboration with Cisco is intended to define the technologies required to link these systems reliably, allowing quantum devices to work as a coordinated cluster.

The companies plan to develop hardware and software capable of connecting fault-tolerant quantum computers operating in separate cryogenic environments. This will involve new physical interfaces such as microwave-optical transducers and supporting software that can manage distributed workloads across systems.

Cisco will contribute networking technologies intended to preserve fragile quantum states and distribute entanglement across devices.

Vijoy Pandey, GM/SVP at Outshift by Cisco, says: “Getting quantum computing to useful scale is not just about building bigger individual machines, it is also about connecting them together. 

“IBM is building quantum computers with aggressive roadmaps for scale-up, and we are bringing quantum networking that enables scale-out. 

“Together, we are solving this as a complete system problem, including the hardware to connect quantum computers, the software to run computations across them, and the networking intelligence that makes them work.”

Linking QPUs within and between data centres

A major focus of the collaboration is the development of IBM’s planned quantum networking unit, which would act as an interface between stationary qubits inside a quantum processor and the “flying” quantum information needed for networking. 

Cisco’s quantum network design would distribute entanglement to these units on demand, enabling multi-system quantum algorithms.

The companies intend to explore how to extend this model beyond single sites. After demonstrating linked systems in one data centre, they plan to investigate optical-photon transmission and other approaches for connecting quantum computers between buildings or different data centre locations.

IBM and Cisco also plan to explore a network bridge that uses Cisco quantum network nodes to link multiple IBM quantum processing units across a facility. 

In future phases, this architecture could evolve to support links spanning several data centres, allowing quantum workloads to scale across a wider footprint.

Towards a quantum data centre model

Cisco has outlined a quantum data centre concept that includes hardware and software needed to manage entanglement, teleportation and synchronisation with sub-nanosecond accuracy. This would support distributed quantum workloads that rely on coordinated operations across many processors.

The two companies also plan to fund academic research to advance the broader ecosystem. IBM, working with the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center led by Fermilab, is already exploring how quantum networking units might be deployed within quantum data centres. An initial demonstration of multiple connected quantum processors is planned within the next three years.

If successful, the technologies developed through the partnership would allow data centres to host interconnected quantum systems capable of running workloads that exceed the capacity of any single machine.