Cisco Systems has introduced a prototype chip designed to network quantum computers, marking a significant step in the company’s quantum computing initiatives. Alongside this development, Cisco announced the inauguration of a new research facility in Santa Monica, California, dedicated to advancing quantum technologies. The newly revealed chip utilizes technologies akin to those found in existing networking chips, aiming to interconnect smaller quantum computers into more extensive systems. Cisco envisions immediate applications for this technology, including synchronizing clocks for financial institutions to ensure precise timing of trades and aiding scientists in meteorite detection.
In the broader context of the tech industry, Cisco joins other major firms like Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which have recently announced their own quantum computing chips. Nvidia has also disclosed plans to establish a quantum computing lab. Meanwhile, startups such as PsiQuantum are securing substantial investments to develop quantum systems. Distinct from its counterparts focusing on increasing the number of qubits—the fundamental units of quantum computing—Cisco’s approach centers on connecting these units. The company collaborated with researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, to develop the chip, which operates by inducing quantum entanglement in pairs of photons. One photon from each pair is transmitted to separate quantum computers, enabling instantaneous communication between them, regardless of distance, a phenomenon Albert Einstein famously described as “spooky action at a distance.”
Pandey noted that the chip remains in the prototype stage, and there is currently no set timeline for its commercial deployment. “To build out that quantum network, the first building block that you need is an entanglement chip,” he explained. “Here’s the first building block of that.”
Cisco’s latest endeavors underscore its commitment to pioneering advancements in quantum networking, positioning the company at the forefront of this emerging field.
