Cisco continues to double down on its quantum side hustle, joining up with quantum computing firm Infleqtion to research networked quantum systems.

The pair plan to explore areas like network architectures capable of orchestrating data transfers between distributed quantum sensors and computational nodes. Also on the docket are plans to uncover means to get fragile quantum data out of a chip and onto a fiber-optic network without destroying it.

“The next major breakthrough in quantum will not come from building bigger isolated machines, but from networking systems together,” Ramana Kompella, VP and head of Cisco Research, explained. “By combining Cisco’s quantum networking leadership with Infleqtion’s quantum platforms, we are developing the communication architecture needed to scale quantum capabilities from standalone devices into resilient, collaborative networks.”

Cisco’s quantum efforts see it focus less on building computers like an IBM and more what it does best: networking. The industry giant’s work with Infleqtion boils down to trying to get the quantum states held inside a physical atom into a photon (particles of light used to carry information across networks) to travel down a fiber-optic cable and connect into broader networks.

It’s already made several strides, chief of which was a prototype quantum switch revealed in April that’s designed to route and convert quantum information between systems built on different encoding approaches – a a step toward more interoperable quantum networks.

By tapping into Colorado-based Infleqtion's expertise in neutral-atom hardware, Cisco aims to link quantum devices and sensing tech with its own networking stack. Ultimately, the partnership seeks to pave the way for interconnecting diverse quantum computers, sensors, and related hardware into larger, distributed networks.

“Achieving the broadest applications of quantum computing will require many quantum systems working together," Inflecqtion CTO Pranav Gokhale added. "The path forward is connecting these systems together the same way the internet emerged from connecting many classical computers."

Cisco’s wider quantum effort has seen it work on entanglement sources and software for orchestrating distributed quantum workloads. This includes work with firms including IBM, Qunnect, and Atom Computing.