Elodie Collins 
IBM and Cisco are developing quantum hardware and software that can link large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers and address foundational challenges for a future quantum computing internet.
How Will the IBM-Cisco Partnership Advance Quantum Computing?
The companies said Thursday that by 2030 they plan to demonstrate a proof-of-concept network connecting multiple large-scale quantum computers to run computations over tens to hundreds of thousands of qubits.
As part of the effort, the companies will also develop microwave-optical transducers and build a quantum networking unit that converts stationary quantum information into transferable states.
“Getting quantum computing to useful scale is not just about building bigger individual machines, it is also about connecting them together,” commented Vijoy Pandey, general manager and senior vice president at Outshift by Cisco. “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.”
In addition to its partnership with Cisco, IBM is exploring how to use multiple quantum networking units within quantum data centers as part of the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems, or SQMS, Center.
Led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, SQMS is a DOE National Quantum Information Science Research Center, which focuses on delivering superconducting quantum systems. IBM joined SQMS in July 2024.
The work supports a path toward a future quantum computing internet capable of enabling secure communications and advanced scientific monitoring.
How Close is IBM to Building a Quantum Computer?
IBM is also developing its own fault-tolerant quantum computing, called the Starling system, which it expects to achieve by 2029, according to the company’s roadmap published in June.
Starling, IBM said, will perform 20,000 times more operations compared to current quantum computers.
“At IBM, our roadmap includes plans to deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers before the end of the decade,” said Jay Gambetta, director of IBM Research and IBM fellow. “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.”
