IBM and Cisco have unveiled an ambitious plan to link quantum computers across long distances by the end of 2030—an early but critical step toward building a future quantum internet. While the companies acknowledge that several key technologies needed for such a network have yet to be invented, they aim to develop them in partnership with U.S. federal labs and academic institutions.
Quantum computers hold the potential to solve problems in chemistry, materials science, and cryptography that are impossible for classical machines. However, they remain highly fragile systems, dependent on qubits housed in cryogenic environments near absolute zero. IBM, targeting a fully operational quantum system by 2029, continues to refine these systems to reduce errors and increase stability.
The greatest technical hurdle lies in converting stationary qubit data into “flying qubits” that can move between quantum computers. These flying qubits exist as microwave signals, but long-distance transmission requires converting microwaves into optical signals that can travel over fiber networks. This crucial component—a microwave-to-
Cisco, which opened a dedicated quantum networking lab earlier this year, will work with IBM on open-source software needed to integrate quantum hardware, routing systems, and network layers.
While practical quantum networking remains years away, the partnership marks a significant step toward creating the foundational technologies required for global quantum communication.
