Cisco is pushing the boundaries of quantum technology with a focus on practical quantum networks and data centers.
At its recent Quantum Summit 2024, Cisco brought together industry experts to explore breakthroughs in everything from quantum networking to security. But his vision of a next-generation quantum data center has taken center stage.
Cisco’s ambitious concept for a quantum data center envisions a device capable of handling multiple quantum circuits with dynamic networking and a variety of entangled protocols. According to Reza Nejabati, head of Cisco’s quantum research team at Outshift, traditional approaches to scaling quantum computers — such as building massive individual systems with millions of qubits — are simply impractical with current technology.
“Instead, it is more realistic to connect smaller quantum computers within a centralized data center,” he explained. Known as a quantum data center, this setup would connect large numbers of processors in a controlled environment to offer quantum computing as a scalable service.
Earlier this year, Cisco hinted at the potential of quantum data centers that could connect quantum computers via traditional LAN models and fiber links. This architecture could enable high-speed transmission of quantum bits, or qubits, between servers, opening the door for commercial applications. “We also want to connect quantum sensors to integrate IoT devices,” Nejabati added, explaining that this could enable a wider distributed sensing network.
Cisco’s approach would allow customers to use existing optical infrastructure for quantum interconnects, avoiding the need for an entirely new network setup.
The concept centers around Cisco’s quantum networking fabric, QFabric, designed to support reliable, high-speed quantum connections. QFabric would serve as the core of a Cisco quantum switch that would facilitate the smooth transmission of entangled photons between devices. This switch would support various entanglement modes while offering ultra-low loss and minimal time delay to ensure a secure and seamless connection. Cisco’s goal is to support a scalable, multi-tenant quantum network that can dynamically adapt to user demands.
Cisco prioritizes security when building this quantum network infrastructure. QFabric will include quantum key distribution (QKD) features to enable secure key sharing through the principles of quantum mechanics.
Cisco is also developing a hybrid key management system that combines QKD with post-quantum cryptography (PQC), which uses complex algorithms to defend against future quantum attacks. The company even created its own quantum random number generator, an essential tool for strong cryptography.
In addition to the hardware, Cisco is developing Quantum Orchestra, a software package that manages entanglement, routing, and resource allocation in a quantum network. Quantum Orchestra will optimize network performance by assigning tasks based on network topology and device distribution, minimizing execution time and increasing efficiency.
So far, much of the development has been in simulation, but Cisco expects to publish its findings soon, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential of quantum networks for industries that connect to secure, high-speed computing.
(Photo by Taylor Vick)
See also: Hitachi Vantara and Cisco Unveil Next Generation Hybrid Cloud Managed Services
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