IBM and Cisco Form Alliance to Build Quantum Computing Network
The tech giants aim to create a functional, large-scale network for fault-tolerant quantum computers by the early 2030s, laying the groundwork for a future quantum internet.
International Business Machines Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. are joining forces to tackle one of the biggest challenges in next-generation computing: making quantum computers talk to each other. The two technology stalwarts announced a strategic partnership to develop the essential networking infrastructure required to connect large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
The multi-year collaboration aims to produce a proof-of-concept within five years and deliver a functional quantum computing network by the early 2030s. This move signals a critical shift from developing standalone quantum processors to building the foundational architecture needed for a quantum internet, a development that could unlock unprecedented computational power.
The partnership marries IBM's leadership in quantum hardware with Cisco's deep expertise in networking technology. While companies like IBM and Google have made significant strides in building more powerful quantum processors, most of these machines operate in isolation. A robust network would allow multiple quantum processors to be linked, vastly increasing their collective power to solve problems far beyond the capacity of even the most powerful classical supercomputers today.
According to the joint announcement from IBM, the ultimate goal is to enable computations across tens to hundreds of thousands of qubits. "We are proud to be embarking on this journey with Cisco to build the essential networking and security infrastructure that will connect the quantum and classical worlds," the statement noted, highlighting the hybrid nature of near-term quantum applications.
This long-term investment by two of tech's most established players—with a combined market capitalization exceeding $575 billion—underscores the growing momentum in commercializing quantum technology. The collaboration is entering a market poised for explosive growth. The quantum networking sector is projected to expand from approximately $844 million in 2024 to over $15.7 billion by 2032, according to analysis by Polaris Market Research.
Under the partnership, Cisco will focus on developing a high-speed software protocol framework. This technology will be crucial for managing the fragile quantum state of entanglement across a network, dynamically reconfiguring pathways to distribute quantum information between machines.
While the commercial payoff from quantum computing remains years away, this initiative addresses a fundamental bottleneck. For quantum technology to become a practical tool for industries like pharmaceuticals, materials science, and finance, a reliable and scalable network is not just an advantage—it's a necessity. The alliance between IBM and Cisco represents a major, concrete step toward building that future.