IBM and Cisco Collaborate on Quantum Internet Initiative
IBM and Cisco have announced a strategic partnership to develop a quantum internet, aiming to interconnect quantum computers into a powerful network by the early 2030s. IBM will lead the construction of quantum hardware, while Cisco focuses on networking infrastructure to facilitate seamless communication between nodes.
The collaboration targets breakthroughs in pharmaceutical research, materials science, and complex computational problems currently intractable for classical computers. A key component is IBM's Quantum Network Unit (QNU), designed to interface individual quantum systems with the broader network.
This initiative represents the first concrete step toward a global quantum ecosystem encompassing not just computing but also quantum-secured communications and distributed sensing technologies. The 2030s timeline reflects the technical challenges inherent in maintaining quantum coherence across networked systems.
