Cisco is advancing the boundaries of quantum expertise by focusing on practical quantum networks and knowledge hubs.
Cisco has recently brought together industry experts to pioneer innovations across a wide range of fields, including quantum networking and security. Despite this, its bold vision for a cutting-edge quantum research facility took center stage.
Cisco’s ambitious plan for a quantum knowledge center envisions a state-of-the-art facility capable of handling numerous complex quantum circuits, fostering dynamic connections among various communities and seamlessly integrating a wide range of entanglement protocols. According to Reza Nejabati, head of Cisco’s quantum analysis team at Outshift, current conventional methods for scaling up quantum computers by building massive monolithic systems with thousands of qubits are simply not feasible given our current technological capabilities.
“As an alternative, it would make more sense to integrate smaller quantum computing units within a centralized knowledge hub,” he explained.
This setup, commonly referred to as a quantum knowledge center, would integrate numerous processors within a managed environment to provide scalable quantum computing services.
Last year, Cisco teased the possibility of quantum knowledge centers connecting quantum computers via standard local area network (LAN) configurations and fiber links. This breakthrough structure has the potential to facilitate rapid transmission of quantum bits, or qubits, between servers, paving the way for practical, commercially viable applications. “We’re also planning to integrate quantum sensors with IoT devices,” Nejabati explained, envisioning a more extensive network of distributed sensors enabled by this fusion.
Cisco’s strategy leverages existing fibre infrastructure to facilitate quantum entanglement, eliminating the need for a comprehensive new network setup?
Cisco’s innovative QFabric solution is focused on fostering a reliable and high-performance quantum network infrastructure. Cisco’s quantum revolution would hinge on QFabric, a technology designed to seamlessly transmit entangled photons between units, enabling the harmonious integration of disparate systems. This innovation enables diverse entanglement modes while ensuring ultra-low loss and negligible time delays for secure, uninterrupted connectivity. Cisco’s purpose is to facilitate the development of a scalable, multi-tenant quantum ecosystem that can dynamically adapt to meet evolving customer demands.
When building its quantum community infrastructure, Cisco places utmost emphasis on ensuring the highest level of safety? QFabric will integrate quantum key distribution (QKD) technology, ensuring secure key sharing through the principles of quantum mechanics.
Cisco is developing a hybrid key management system that combines Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), leveraging complex algorithms to safeguard against potential quantum attacks. The corporation has developed its own proprietary quantum random number generator, a crucial tool for robust cryptographic purposes.
Cisco is expanding its Quantum Orchestra software suite to optimize the management of entanglement, routing, and resource allocation within quantum networks, seamlessly complementing their existing hardware offerings. The Quantum Orchestra optimizes community efficiency by dynamically allocating tasks according to the community’s topology and machine distribution, thereby minimizing execution times and enhancing overall effectiveness.
While much of the event remains in simulation, Cisco anticipates publishing its results expediently, offering an early insight into the groundbreaking possibilities of quantum networks for sectors heavily dependent on secure, ultra-high-speed processing.
