The company advocates for a practical, interoperable, and scalable approach to bringing quantum computing to data centers and the cloud.
Cisco has taken a decisive step in its quantum computing strategy with the unveiling of its first entanglement-generating chip capable of producing up to 200 million entangled photon pairs per second. Developed by its Santa Monica-based Quantum Lab, this breakthrough promises to be the cornerstone for building distributed, scalable quantum networks that are compatible with classical network infrastructure and data centers.
According to Reza Nejabati, head of Cisco’s Quantum Lab, the goal is clear: “The promise of quantum computing is immense, but it will only become real if we can make it practical, accessible, and secure enough to solve humanity’s real problems.”
From academia to commercialization
Moving beyond research, Cisco is focusing on the practical application of quantum technology. The entanglement chip they introduced is based on an energy-efficient architecture that operates at room temperature, eliminating the need for complex cryogenic systems. Its operation is straightforward: laser light is injected into the chip, which converts each photon into two lower-energy entangled photons, compatible with telecom frequencies. This allows their transmission over standard optical fibers without special infrastructure.
“This chip is the first building block of our quantum network,” Nejabati states. “It enables quantum computers to connect through existing fiber networks, seamlessly integrating quantum and classical computing.”
Distributed quantum networks: Cisco’s approach
Instead of building enormous monolithic quantum computers, Cisco favors connecting multiple smaller quantum nodes via a distributed network. They are also developing quantum switches, network interfaces, and routing mechanisms that preserve qubit entanglement properties.
Vijoy Pandey, vice president of Outshift (Cisco’s innovation incubator), explains that this approach aims to accelerate the deployment of practical applications in logistics, healthcare, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and high-precision time synchronization.
“We’re building the quantum internet,” Pandey affirms. “And we’re doing it in a technology-agnostic way, compatible with different platforms, with a clear roadmap toward commercialization.”
Post-quantum security and open standards
Cisco is also addressing cybersecurity challenges in the quantum era. The company has incorporated NIST-standardized post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms into its product portfolio and is working on integrating quantum key distribution (QKD) technologies with its routers via the SKIP protocol.
“With QKD, we can mitigate attacks that aim to collect data now and decrypt it later when quantum capabilities mature,” explains Ramana Kompella, head of Cisco Research.
Additionally, Cisco is fostering an open quantum ecosystem by collaborating with universities such as UC Santa Barbara, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, and the University of Arizona, as well as organizations like the Linux Foundation, IETF, and NIST.
Upcoming applications and operational advantages
The chip is already attracting interest across sectors like finance, automotive, healthcare, and robotics. Short-term applications include quantum position verification, instant decision coordination, and ultrafine time synchronization for autonomous systems.
Thanks to its over 99% fidelity and minimal power consumption—less than 1 mW per chip—this technology is ideally suited for deployment in data centers, where it can coexist with classical architectures and AI systems, helping to mitigate the sector’s growing energy challenges.
Cisco’s vision: global collaboration for transformative technology
“We’re creating the critical interconnectors for the quantum network of the future,” concludes Kompella. “But this isn’t a solo effort. A global community is needed for quantum computing to reach its full potential.”
With this announcement, Cisco not only enters the quantum race but does so with a comprehensive vision: a distributed, secure, open quantum network aligned with existing internet standards governing the digital world. The quantum era is closer than ever.
via: newsroom.cisco.com