The company aims to reduce decades of development to just 5-10 years with a pioneering approach to scalable quantum networks that are compatible with existing infrastructure.
Cisco has taken a decisive step toward the future of quantum computing with the announcement of two strategic milestones: the introduction of its Quantum Network Entanglement Chip, a prototype of a quantum entanglement chip, and the official opening of Cisco Quantum Labs in Santa Monica, California, a facility dedicated to researching quantum networking technologies.
The goal is clear: to build a distributed quantum network infrastructure, much like Cisco did with classic Internet, to enable the connection of quantum processors and accelerate the arrival of practical quantum computing applications, reducing the timeline from decades to just 5 to 10 years.
Overcoming the Quantum Scale Bottleneck
Currently, quantum processors only reach a few hundred qubits, but practical applications are estimated to require millions. Instead of relying on a single monolithic quantum supercomputer, Cisco proposes a distributed architecture: quantum data centers where multiple processors collaborate through specialized quantum networks.
Just as traditional data centers connect nodes to create aggregated computational power, quantum computing will scale using networks that allow entanglement between remote nodes. The quantum network thus becomes a key component.
The Quantum Entanglement Chip: A Practical Revolution
The new Quantum Network Entanglement Chip, developed in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara, generates pairs of entangled photons that can be used for quantum teleportation, meaning the quantum state of one particle can be transmitted to another regardless of distance.
Key features of the chip include:
- Compatibility with existing infrastructure: it operates using standard telecommunications wavelengths, allowing it to utilize the already deployed fiber optic network.
- Practical deployment: it operates at room temperature and is miniaturized as a photonic integrated chip (PIC).
- High energy efficiency: consumption is under 1 mW.
- High performance: capable of generating up to 200 million entangled pairs per second, with 1 million per output channel.
These features make it a crucial component for scalable and energy-efficient quantum networks.
Cisco Quantum Labs: From Lab to Reality
The opening of Cisco Quantum Labs marks a turning point in the company’s quantum development. The lab not only works on the entanglement chip but also develops a complete set of tools necessary for a functional quantum network:
- Entanglement distribution protocols.
- Compiler for distributed quantum computing.
- Quantum network development kit (QNDK).
- Quantum random number generator (QRNG) based on quantum vacuum noise.
This work is complemented by the adoption of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) according to NIST standards across Cisco’s product portfolio, ensuring that classical networks are prepared to withstand future threats.
A Dual Strategy: Quantum Networks for the Quantum and Classical Worlds
Cisco has articulated its quantum strategy in two directions:
- Quantum networks for the quantum world: interconnection of quantum processors to enable distributed computing, advanced quantum sensing, and optimized algorithms to solve complex problems like drug discovery or simulating new materials.
- Quantum networks for the classical world: immediate benefits for current systems through uninterceptable communications, ultra-fine temporal synchronization, decision signaling, and secure location verification.
What sets Cisco apart in this field is its comprehensive approach of hardware + software, enabling it to create a complete technology stack for quantum networks. Additionally, its infrastructure is designed to be agnostic toward quantum technology, compatible with superconducting processors, ion traps, or neutral atoms.
A New Quantum Internet Under Construction
Just as it once built the fabric of the global Internet, Cisco now aims to lead the creation of the quantum Internet, laying the groundwork for a new era of ultra-secure connectivity and distributed processing.
“Quantum computing will not evolve in isolation, but connected. Quantum networks will be the bridge between theory and real utility,” concludes Vijoy Pandey, Cisco’s Vice President of Research.
Source: Cisco Blogs