Cisco has unveiled its Quantum Network Entanglement Chip and officially launched the Cisco Quantum Labs in Santa Monica, marking a major push into quantum networking infrastructure. These milestones aim to bring forward the timeline for scalable quantum computing by building the foundational network stack necessary to interconnect quantum processors, much like classical networks transformed data centers decades ago. Cisco’s prototype chip, developed in partnership with UC Santa Barbara, generates up to 200 million entangled photon pairs per second, operates at standard telecom wavelengths, functions at room temperature, and consumes under 1 mW—making it deployable with today’s fiber infrastructure.
In two related blog posting, Cisco’s Vijoy Pandy, Ramana Kompella, and Reza Nejabati describe how the prototype entanglement chip is a core component of a broader quantum data center architecture, which includes quantum switches, quantum NICs, entanglement distribution protocols, and a distributed quantum computing compiler. The system is designed to preserve fragile quantum states, facilitate teleportation across processors, and synchronize operations at sub-nanosecond precision. Cisco’s research outlines a three-layer quantum stack—hardware, entanglement management, and distributed computing—to enable quantum data centers composed of smaller processors networked into scalable systems.
Cisco is pursuing a dual-path strategy: enabling quantum networks for both quantum-native workloads (e.g., distributed quantum computing, sensing, and optimization) and enhancing classical applications through quantum principles like ultra-secure communication and precision timing. With active collaborations across academia and industry—including quantum startups and financial institutions—Cisco is shaping a vendor-agnostic quantum networking fabric that can interconnect diverse quantum platforms. The company will further showcase its progress during a June 12 panel at Cisco Live in San Diego.
Key Points:
- Cisco launches Quantum Labs and unveils entanglement chip generating 200M entangled photon pairs/sec
- Chip supports room-temperature operation, <1 mW power draw, and 1550 nm telecom wavelength
- Quantum data center architecture includes switches, NICs, entanglement protocols, and compilers
- Enables scalable distributed quantum computing and post-quantum secure applications
- Cisco adopts a vendor-agnostic, full-stack quantum networking approach
“By intelligently networking smaller quantum processors, we can achieve the scale needed for practical applications years ahead of expectations,” writes Vijoy Pandey, Cisco’s VP of Emerging Technologies and Incubation.
