Vodafone & ORCA Computing Trial Quantum Computing for Faster Network Optimisation

Vodafone is collaborating with ORCA Computing to assess the application of quantum computing to optimise its fixed and mobile broadband networks, spanning over 200 destinations and including a significant undersea cable network and emerging satellite communications system. The partnership aims to accelerate complex network modelling, currently limited by classical computing power, with initial tests focused on optical fibre cable design and utilising ORCA Computing’s photonic quantum computer, the PT-2 Series. A recent joint project, supported by the UK Quantum Technology Access Programme, demonstrated the system’s ability to solve a complex mathematical problem – the Steiner Tree Problem – in minutes, a task that would conventionally require considerably longer processing times. The collaboration intends to improve network efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance predictive maintenance through accelerated machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.

Vodafone and ORCA Computing are collaborating to model future telecommunications networks using quantum computing, initially focusing on optimising optical fibre cable design. This partnership leverages the potential of quantum processors to address the increasing complexity of network planning, a task that challenges classical computers. By applying quantum computation, the companies aim to identify genuinely optimal network configurations, reducing cable length and strategically positioning base stations to enhance speed and minimise infrastructure costs. Vodafone anticipates that quantum optimisation will not only improve network accuracy but also facilitate the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence for proactive fault prediction, enhancing overall network resilience and customer experience.

Traditional methods rely on approximations, but quantum algorithms offer the possibility of achieving superior results in real-world scenarios. A key demonstration involved solving the Steiner Tree Problem, a well-known challenge in network connectivity, which seeks to find the shortest network connecting specified points. Using the ORCA PT-2, Vodafone successfully executed an optimisation algorithm in minutes, a task that would require considerably longer on conventional hardware. This result highlights the potential for quantum acceleration in practical telecommunications applications and demonstrates the viability of photonic quantum computers for solving complex optimisation problems.

ORCA Computing’s photonic quantum computing systems – the PT-2 Series – underpin this collaboration, enabling the solution of complex mathematical problems inherent in network optimisation. The partnership extends beyond immediate problem-solving, with both companies committed to developing additional algorithms and conducting defined test projects. This iterative approach aims to evaluate the feasibility of a deeper commercial relationship and accelerate the adoption of quantum computing within Vodafone’s global network, which encompasses over 200 destinations and a substantial undersea cable infrastructure. This supports Vodafone’s broader strategy of enhancing networks through automation and advanced computing technologies.