How Cisco And Ibm Are Building The Quantum Future Faster

NOVEMBER 20, 2025 – YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY and SAN JOSE, CA -- Today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced an intention to collaborate on the groundwork for networked distributed quantum computing, to... By combining IBM’s leadership in building useful quantum computers with Cisco’s quantum networking innovations, the companies plan to explore how to scale large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers beyond IBM’s ambitious roadmap. Additionally, they will work to solve fundamental challenges towards a quantum computing internet. Within five years, IBM and Cisco will aim to demonstrate the first proof-of-concept for a network that combines individual, large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers, enabling them to work together to run computations over tens to... This network would allow problems to be run with potentially trillions of quantum gates, the fundamental entangling operations required for transformative quantum applications such as massive optimization problems, or the design of complex materials... “At IBM, our roadmap includes plans to deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers before the end of the decade,” said Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow.

“By working with Cisco to explore how to link multiple quantum computers like these together into a distributed network, we will pursue how to further scale quantum’s computational power. And as we build the future of compute, our vision will push the frontiers of what quantum computers can do within a larger high-performance computing architecture.” "Getting quantum computing to useful scale is not just about building bigger individual machines, it is also about connecting them together,” said Vijoy Pandey, GM/SVP at Outshift by Cisco. “IBM is building quantum computers with aggressive roadmaps for scale-up, and we are bringing quantum networking that enables scale-out. Together, we are solving this as a complete system problem, including the hardware to connect quantum computers, the software to run computations across them, and the networking intelligence that makes them work." Scaling a Distributed Quantum Computing Network

​​​​​​​IBM and Cisco have outlined a joint plan to build a distributed quantum computing network capable of interconnecting large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers within and between data centres. The companies aim to deliver an initial demonstration by 2030, with longer term work focused on the foundations of a quantum computing internet. Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow, says: “At IBM, our roadmap includes plans to deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers before the end of the decade. “By working with Cisco to explore how to link multiple quantum computers like these together into a distributed network, we will pursue how to further scale quantum's computational power. And as we build the future of compute, our vision will push the frontiers of what quantum computers can do within a larger high-performance computing architecture.” IBM’s roadmap sets out quantum processing units that will operate as shared computing resources, deployed in data centres and linked over short distances through dedicated networking hardware.

Companies aim to scale fault-tolerant quantum systems into a high-performance, entangled mesh to serve as the foundation for a quantum internet. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. IBM and Cisco have announced plans to jointly build a distributed quantum computing network capable of linking fault-tolerant systems over long distances. In an announcement on Thursday, November 20, the companies said they aim to demonstrate a two-machine entanglement proof-of-concept by 2030, with the ultimate goal of enabling scalable quantum workloads that span multiple sites and... If successful, the collaboration would mark a shift in how quantum computing resources are deployed, moving beyond single-system scale to a federated architecture capable of trillions of quantum operations.

The initiative will combine IBM’s superconducting qubit hardware with new networking infrastructure from Cisco, including microwave-optical transducers, quantum network control layers, and physical and software routing protocols designed for entangled quantum state transmission. The proposed architecture is intended to support fault-tolerant quantum computers already in IBM’s development roadmap. But it would also require the creation of new intermediary hardware — a planned ‘Quantum Networking Unit’, or QNU — to interface with IBM’s quantum processors and translate static quantum states into flying qubits... IBM and Cisco have announced plans to develop a distributed quantum computing network that would interlink large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum systems within and across data centres. The companies aim to demonstrate the first proof-of-concept within five years, with a longer-term goal of building the foundations for a quantum computing internet in the 2030s. Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow, says: “At IBM, our roadmap includes plans to deliver large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers before the end of the decade.

“By working with Cisco to explore how to link multiple quantum computers like these together into a distributed network, we will pursue how to further scale quantum's computational power. And as we build the future of compute, our vision will push the frontiers of what quantum computers can do within a larger high-performance computing architecture.” IBM’s roadmap positions future quantum processing units as shared resources that can be housed in data centres and connected over short distances through dedicated quantum networking hardware. A new strategic alliance between two technology titans is setting the stage for a fundamental shift in digital infrastructure. IBM, often viewed as a venerable institution in the tech sector, has announced a pioneering partnership with networking leader Cisco Systems. Their shared objective is to develop the foundational architecture for a distributed quantum network, targeting operational capability in the early 2030s.

This long-term collaboration aims to connect individual quantum computing clusters into an integrated system, often conceptualized as a “quantum internet.” The goal is to create a high-performance architecture that transcends the physical limitations of... For market observers, this move signals IBM’s transition from pure hardware development to actively building the infrastructure for the quantum era, directly addressing the technology’s scalability challenges. Concurrently, IBM is advancing its immediate commercial offerings. The company has announced the immediate availability of its new AI-optimized OpenShift platform on its Power Systems servers. This deeper integration of Red Hat software with IBM’s proprietary processors is designed to support latency-sensitive artificial intelligence applications. CEO Arvind Krishna’s strategy of tightly coupling hardware and software within the hybrid cloud and AI domains is demonstrating tangible results, creating current revenue opportunities while future technologies are incubated.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying IBM? The company’s strategic repositioning is resonating with investors. IBM’s equity has recorded an advance of nearly 23 percent since the start of the year, reflecting renewed market confidence. From a technical analysis perspective, the shares appear robust: the current price of approximately 264 euros sits comfortably above the 200-day moving average, underscoring a sustained upward trend. by Elodie Collins November 24, 2025, 7:21 am

IBM and Cisco are developing quantum hardware and software that can link large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers and address foundational challenges for a future quantum computing internet. The companies said Thursday that by 2030 they plan to demonstrate a proof-of-concept network connecting multiple large-scale quantum computers to run computations over tens to hundreds of thousands of qubits. As part of the effort, the companies will also develop microwave-optical transducers and build a quantum networking unit that converts stationary quantum information into transferable states. “Getting quantum computing to useful scale is not just about building bigger individual machines, it is also about connecting them together,” commented Vijoy Pandey, general manager and senior vice president at Outshift by Cisco. “IBM is building quantum computers with aggressive roadmaps for scale-up, and we are bringing quantum networking that enables scale-out. Together, we are solving this as a complete system problem, including the hardware to connect quantum computers, the software to run computations across them, and the networking intelligence that makes them work.”

Cisco and IBM plan to pool their R&D efforts to build a network of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of working together to run computations up to hundreds of thousands of qubits. They aim to demonstrate the first proof-of-concept within five years, though much of this technology has not been developed yet. As part of the collaboration, the vendors will look to develop quantum hardware and software that could physically link many large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers together to form networked distributed quantum computing. Their initial proof-of-concept calls for entangling qubits from multiple separate quantum computers located in distinct cryogenic environments. “Doing so will require the companies to invent new connections, including microwave-optical transducers and a supporting software stack,” the vendors stated. “Getting quantum computing to useful scale is not just about building bigger individual machines, it is also about connecting them together,” Vijoy Pandey, general manager and senior vice president at Outshift by Cisco, said...

“IBM is building quantum processors with aggressive roadmaps for scale-up, and we are bringing quantum networking that enables scale-out. Together, we are solving this as a complete system problem including the hardware to connect quantum processors, the software to run computations across them, and the networking intelligence that makes it work.” [[Related: Top quantum breakthroughs of 2025]] IBM has talked about developing an interface to its quantum computers called a Quantum Networking Unit (QNU), which will allow for microwave-based link research and prototyping. IBM announced this month it is working with the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory to entangle two IBM quantum computers in separate cryogenic infrastructures, linked together by... QNU-based systems could be used across potentially multiple quantum computers through a network.

IBM Q System One Quantum Computer. Image: © AA+W/Stock.adobe.com Cisco and IBM will collaborate to create a connected network of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers with a target of 2030 for proof-of-concept. IBM and Cisco say a distributed quantum network would lay the groundwork towards a quantum computing internet defined by quantum computers, sensors and communications in the late 2030s. The companies say that combining IBM’s experience in building useful quantum computers with Cisco’s quantum networking innovations will allow them to explore how to solve fundamental challenges towards a quantum computing internet. They hope to demonstrate a first proof-of concept within the next five years.

The aim is to ultimately create a network of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers, enabling them to work together “to run computations over tens to hundreds of thousands of qubits”. Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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