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Quantum computing is no longer confined to research labs or hypothetical debates. The conversation is shifting. Practicality is the new benchmark.
While many companies are focused on squeezing more qubits out of quantum hardware, Cisco has taken a different path. They are building the infrastructure needed to enable those quantum processors to work together securely and at scale.
At Cisco Live in San Diego, Techopedia sat down with Vijoy Pandey, SVP/GM, Head of Outshift by Cisco, to learn more about the future of quantum computing.
Key Takeaways
- Cisco’s quantum network entanglement chip works with existing infrastructure.
- Practical quantum networking is already improving classical systems today.
- Vendor-neutral design connects all quantum platforms across diverse environments.
- Cisco is building infrastructure now to accelerate the real-world adoption of quantum
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Building for Use, Not for Glory
Vijoy Pandey told Techopedia:
“We’re not here to win a Nobel Prize. We’re here to build something people can use.”
And it’s not about a theoretical advantage. It’s about real-world applications.
This shift in mindset repositions Cisco as a central figure in the race toward scalable quantum systems, not as a hardware player but as the backbone, the enabler. It’s a role they’ve played before, during the emergence of the internet. This time, they’re applying the same logic to quantum.
It’s also worth pointing out that Cisco’s perspective aligns with long-term infrastructure thinking. They are not betting on hype cycles. They are investing in connectivity, which is always in demand.
The Quantum Computing Bottleneck
For all the promise surrounding quantum technology, there’s one inescapable fact: most processors today still operate with a few hundred qubits. Applications that matter, such as molecular simulation, materials discovery, and logistics modeling, will require millions. The math doesn’t work without scale.
Decades ago, classical computing hit a similar wall. Scaling individual machines wasn’t enough. The solution was to connect smaller units and distribute the workload more effectively. Data centers and cloud computing were born. Cisco sees quantum computing following the same arc.
Pandey explained:
“The quantum network has to be real. It has to be usable. And it has to integrate with the systems that already exist. It can’t be something you wait 15 years to use. We’re pulling that horizon closer.”
The implication here is profound. If we rely solely on hardware, quantum computing remains a science project. With networking, it becomes something deployable. That’s what Cisco is after: a path to scale, not a single-machine breakthrough.
Cisco’s Entanglement Chip: Ready for the Real World
The Quantum Network Entanglement Chip is Cisco’s first significant step toward building a scalable quantum internet. Developed in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara, Cisco’s Quantum Network Entanglement chip is designed with real-world constraints in mind. It operates at telecom wavelengths, allowing it to run over existing fiber networks. No exotic cables, no cryogenic cooling.
Pandey said:
“It operates at room temperature. It doesn’t need a clean room. It consumes less than a milliwatt of power and pushes up to 200 million entangled photon pairs per second. We’re not trying to out-theorize anyone. We’re building something you can deploy.”
Most importantly, it’s a miniaturized photonic integrated chip. This means it can be embedded into systems today, forming the basis of distributed quantum architectures tomorrow. It’s not a lab prototype waiting for industrial backing. It’s an industrial prototype built to leave the lab.
While many are building bigger quantum computers, we’re connecting them. Today we unveiled the @Cisco quantum network entanglement chip and officially opened our Santa Monica Quantum Labs.
This could cut the timeline for practical quantum computing by 5-10 years. How? By… pic.twitter.com/vAxLrfXbIl
— Vijoy Pandey (@vijoy) May 6, 2025
Pandey explained further, “It operates at telecom wavelengths, so we don’t need to rip out and replace infrastructure. The only thing that changes is that everything else stays familiar. That’s the power of practical innovation.”
Inside Cisco Quantum Labs
Located in Santa Monica, Cisco Quantum Labs is where the team produces the building blocks of scalable quantum networks. While the chip gets most of the attention, the lab is also developing a full quantum networking stack. It’s where hardware meets software and theory meets implementation.
The roadmap includes the Quantum Network Development Kit, distributed quantum compilers, entanglement distribution protocols, and quantum random number generators. Each component plays a crucial role in creating a fully functional quantum network that is not just theoretical.
“We’ve been working on these fundamentals for years, but now we’re bringing them together in one place, under one roadmap,” said Pandey.
The lab also serves as a collaborative hub. Cisco partners with universities, research labs, and hardware startups to make sure their stack remains compatible and relevant. It’s not about going it alone. It’s about building a foundation that others can trust.
Near-Term Use Meets Long-Term Ambition
Cisco is betting on two tracks. The first is connecting quantum systems for use cases like drug discovery, simulation, and optimization. These will take time. However, the second track is already generating value by utilizing quantum networking concepts to enhance classical systems today.
This includes quantum-secure communication, ultra-precise time synchronization, decision signaling in critical systems, and location verification using quantum physics. These applications don’t require millions of qubits. They require entanglement and a reliable transport layer.
Pandey noted:
“The line between quantum and classical is already starting to blur. We can use what we’re building today to improve traditional infrastructure. It’s not an either-or scenario.”
This thinking reflects Cisco’s broader view that quantum networking is not just for quantum computing but also for other applications. It’s a new class of connectivity. Businesses that adopt early stand to gain a competitive edge in security, latency, and system reliability.
Hardware-Agnostic & Vendor-Neutral
Most quantum startups are locked into specific hardware models. Cisco is not. Whether the future involves superconducting, trapped-ion, or neutral-atom systems, Cisco’s network will connect them. This flexibility is intentional, and it’s already attracting collaboration.
“We don’t need to pick winners,” said Pandey. “Our focus is to enable all of them to scale through interoperability.” This is the same strategy that made Cisco successful in traditional networking by building the roads, not the cars.
The real advantage comes from being on the common ground. Cisco’s hardware doesn’t need special treatment. Their APIs and control layers are designed to support multiple environments.
Pandey emphasized:
“We’re working with partners across academia and industry. Everyone from quantum hardware vendors to AI researchers. Because if this is going to scale, it has to be shared.”
Why Cisco Is Doing This Now
Timing is everything in technology. Some breakthroughs arrive too early and never find adoption. Others come just in time and reshape industries. Cisco is betting that quantum networking is on the cusp of that second path.
Pandey said:
“If we do this right, we’re not talking about 2040. We’re talking about 2030 or even sooner. And if we don’t prepare the infrastructure now, we’ll miss that window.”
Cisco is already integrating post-quantum cryptography standards into its classical products. That’s not a marketing gesture. It reflects their belief that quantum and classical systems will soon coexist in live environments.
From Theory to Operations: Making Quantum Real for Business
One of the most compelling parts of Cisco’s quantum strategy is its focus on usability. This is not a science project. It’s a commercial roadmap. The chip is designed to be embedded. The protocols are being tested in live environments. The SDKs are open to researchers and developers.
Pandey said:
“We want businesses to experiment. We want them to test integration, evaluate risk models, and explore what’s possible. That’s why we’re being transparent about our roadmap.”
This approach lowers the barrier to entry. Enterprise IT leaders don’t need a physics PhD to begin exploring what quantum networking might mean for their data security or compute strategy.
What they do need is awareness. Because the decisions made today about data infrastructure, encryption, and connectivity will either support or block future upgrades. Cisco is giving organizations a head start.
What Should Enterprises Do Today?
If you’re a CIO or CTO reading this, here’s the takeaway. You don’t need to build a quantum lab. You don’t need to hire physicists. But you should be asking your teams if your infrastructure is quantum-ready.
This includes your existing fiber infrastructure, security protocols, timing systems, and the ability to integrate new technologies. These are not theoretical needs. They are being discussed in procurement meetings now.
The best way to prepare is to partner with vendors who are already building for that future. Cisco is not asking you to jump off a cliff. They’re offering a bridge.
Pandey concluded:
“People think quantum is all about physics. That’s true. But at the end of the day, if it can’t connect, it can’t scale. That’s what we’re solving.”
Cisco’s contribution to quantum computing isn’t another processor. It’s how those processors can communicate, share tasks, and operate in sync. The success of quantum doesn’t just hinge on qubits. It hinges on networks.
The infrastructure is being built. The chips are operational. The protocols are moving from concept to code. And for the first time, the idea of a quantum internet isn’t science fiction. It’s a product roadmap.
The Bottom Line
If your organization plans to exist in a world where quantum is part of mainstream computing, then you’re already behind if you’re not thinking about how it will connect. The work Cisco is doing now is not preparation. It is execution.
The rest of the industry should pay attention. Not because quantum is the future, but because Cisco is making it the present. One connection at a time.
