Cisco has unveiled two major quantum networking milestones: the Quantum Network Entanglement Chip and the opening of Cisco Quantum Labs in Santa Monica. The company aims to build infrastructure for the quantum internet, just as it did for the conventional internet, potentially accelerating practical quantum computing applications from decades away to just 5-10 years. Cisco is announcing two milestones.

1. Unveiling of Cisco’s Quantum Network Entanglement Chip – a research prototype and breakthrough technology that enables quantum networks to scale and connect quantum processors for practical applications
2. Opening of Cisco Quantum Labs – our dedicated research lab in Santa Monica, CA, where quantum scientists and engineers are building tomorrow’s quantum networking technologies

The Quantum Network Entanglement Chip, developed with UC Santa Barbara, generates entangled photon pairs that enable quantum teleportation. This breakthrough technology operates at standard telecom wavelengths (using existing fibre infrastructure), functions at room temperature as a miniaturised Photonic Integrated Chip, consumes minimal power, and can generate up to 200 million high-fidelity entanglement pairs per second.

Cisco is pursuing two strategic paths: building infrastructure to connect quantum processors at scale, and applying quantum networking principles to enhance classical systems with benefits like eavesdropper-proof communication and precise time synchronization. Unlike companies focusing on specific quantum computing technologies, Cisco is developing a vendor-agnostic framework compatible with any quantum computing approach.

Cisco’s Quantum Data Center Vision

Cisco Quantum Labs is developing quantum networking infrastructure to enable distributed quantum computing, aiming to scale from today’s few-hundred qubit systems to the millions needed for practical applications. This approach could accelerate quantum computing capabilities years ahead of previous expectations.

The quantum data center architecture they’ve developed consists of three layers: a physical layer of specialized quantum hardware; an entanglement management layer that distributes quantum resources; and a computing layer that partitions algorithms across networked processors.

A key component is their quantum network entanglement chip developed with UC Santa Barbara. This chip generates over one million useable entangled photon pairs per second per channel. It achieves up to 99% fidelity while using less than 1mW of power at room temperature. The chip operates at 1550nm telecom wavelengths, making it compatible with existing fiber infrastructure.

Their research covers the entire quantum networking stack, including quantum switches that preserve quantum states during routing. They’re also developing Quantum Network Interface Cards (NICs) connecting quantum processors to networks, and a distributed computing compiler that partitions algorithms across processors.

Cisco is working with partners in quantum computing, telecommunications, and financial services to refine these technologies. Financial institutions are particularly interested in secure communication and precise time synchronization applications that can leverage quantum networking today, before full-scale quantum computers are available.

Rather than viewing quantum networking as a distant future technology, Cisco sees it as the critical path for accelerating the quantum timeline. By networking smaller quantum processors together, they believe they can potentially achieve practical applications years ahead of expectations.