The company bets on the creation of quantum network infrastructures as the most realistic way to scale quantum computing and transform critical industries in the next decade.
Cisco announced today two key milestones that could significantly advance the future of practical quantum computing: the introduction of its first quantum entanglement chip for networks and the opening of the new Cisco Quantum Labs research center in Santa Monica, California. With this strategy, the company aims to replicate the role it played in the expansion of the Internet, but now in the realm of quantum networking, laying the groundwork for the quantum internet.
According to Cisco, quantum computing will not fulfill its promises through a single monolithic processor with millions of qubits, but through distributed infrastructures of quantum data centers connected via specialized quantum networks, much like how classical computing evolved into cloud-based distributed computing.
Cisco’s Quantum Chip: A Photonic Revolution
In collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara, Cisco has developed a prototype chip that generates pairs of entangled photons, a fundamental property of quantum mechanics known as entanglement or “spooky action at a distance,” in Einstein’s words.
Among its most notable features:
- Compatibility with existing infrastructure: operates at standard telecommunications wavelengths, allowing it to utilize current fiber optic networks.
- Practical and scalable use: presented as a photonic integrated chip (PIC) that operates at room temperature.
- Low power consumption: less than 1 mW per channel.
- High performance: up to 200 million entangled pairs per second, with high fidelity.
This makes the chip a key pillar for interconnecting quantum processors at scale, paving the way for distributed architectures capable of tackling problems that are currently intractable.
Cisco Quantum Labs: From the Lab to the Real Quantum Network
The new Cisco lab in Santa Monica will accelerate the development of the entire quantum network stack, which will include:
- Entanglement distribution protocols.
- A compiler for distributed quantum computing.
- A quantum network development kit (QNDK).
- A quantum random number generator (QRNG) based on quantum vacuum noise.
Cisco is also applying the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards defined by NIST to ensure that classical networks remain secure in a post-quantum environment.
Two Strategic Paths: Quantum Networks for Today and Tomorrow
Cisco’s strategy revolves around two lines of work:
1. Quantum Network for the Quantum World
Develop the necessary infrastructure to connect quantum processors, enabling distributed quantum computing, high-precision quantum sensors, and new optimization algorithms in sectors such as drug discovery, materials science, and complex logistics.
2. Quantum Network for the Classical World
Apply principles of quantum physics to resolve immediate security and accuracy issues in traditional networks, such as:
- Listening-proof communication.
- Ultra-precise time synchronization.
- Secure location verification.
An Agnostic and Comprehensive Approach: Hardware + Software
Unlike other players focused on a single technology (like superconducting qubits or trapped ions), Cisco adopts a technology-agnostic approach, developing both hardware (chips, PICs) and software (protocols, development tools). This allows it to be the connective tissue of the entire quantum ecosystem, regardless of who wins the technological race for qubits.
“Just as Cisco helped build the Internet, we are building the infrastructure that will enable quantum computing to scale and operate practically much sooner than expected,” explains Vijoy Pandey, Senior Vice President of Research at Cisco.
Source: Cisco