AWS Launches Quantum Networking Hub

June 21st, 2022: AWS Center for Quantum Networking

Hey Guys,

This is Quantum Foundry Premium,

I like the PR today out of AWS.

Cloud platforms and quantum computing have a very bright future.

AWS Center for Quantum Networking. Quantum computers can revolutionize science and technology, but they will need to be connected together in a quantum network. The Center for Quantum Networking develops new hardware, software, and applications to meet this challenge.

Mission:

The purpose of the AWS Center for Quantum Networking is to accelerate the development of quantum networking technologies and applications, with the long-term goal to realize the underlying technologies that would enable the distribution of quantum information anywhere on the globe.

The AWS Center for Quantum Networking will complement the advanced quantum science and engineering efforts already underway at AWS Center for Quantum Computing, Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab, and Amazon Braket.

Cloud Leaders are Getting Increasingly Bullish on Quantum Computing

Over the last decade, governments and technology companies have invested heavily in research and development of quantum computers that have the potential to revolutionize science and technology. While there is still a long way ahead, these investments have already transformed quantum computers.

In a blog post today, AWS states its case here.

Cloud hubs for quantum computing startups to scale their products is now the new normal.

In recent years, Amazon and its AWS cloud computing unit made a number of major investments in quantum computing. With Amazon Braket, the company offers developers access to quantum computers from the likes of IonQ, Oxford Quantum Circuits, Rigetti and D-Wave, as well as other software tools and simulators.

• IonQ

• Rigetti

• D-Wave

• Oxford Quantum Circuits and others.

What Makes Quantum Network so Important?

• To unlock the full potential of quantum devices, they need to be connected together into a quantum network, similar to the way today’s devices are connected via the internet.

• Despite not receiving the same level of attention as quantum computers, quantum networks have fascinating possible applications.

• One of them is enabling global communications protected by quantum key distribution with privacy and security levels not achievable using conventional encryption techniques.

• Quantum networks will also provide powerful and secure cloud quantum servers by connecting together and amplifying the capabilities of individual quantum processors.

Many believe a kind of ‘quantum internet’ will soon be possible that represents a next phase of cybersecurity protection and secure communications.

Amazon’s Long-Game in Quantum Networking

Basically, while Braket and the Quantum Solutions Lab focus on near-term practical solutions, the Center for Quantum Computing and now the Center for Quantum Networking focus on long-term research efforts.

Amazon’s CNQ

CQN (Center for Quantum Networking) will complement the advanced quantum science and engineering efforts already underway at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing and the Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab. That’s good to know AWS.

IBM, Microsoft, Google and Amazon all consider themselves respective leaders of how BigTech is investing and intersecting with the future of quantum computing. It’s a bit amusing to see.

Clearly Amazon and AWS is fairly serious with how offering Quantum Computing As a Service (QcaaS) might scale in the years and decades ahead. Partnering with bigger Cloud services also means for Quantum computing startups there’s a viable path to early revenue, in addition to exclusive partnerships with bigger firms in pilots.

Mihir Bhaskar

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihir-bhaskar-9aa772211/

Mihir Bhaskar is a Quantum Research Scientist at the AWS Center for Quantum Networking. Mihir's expertise lies at the intersection of quantum science and engineering, and he is passionate about realizing applications of quantum technologies.

During his PhD research at Harvard, he helped develop a new quantum repeater platform based on color-centers in diamond nanophotonic circuits. Mihir joined AWS in February 2021, where he has worked to establish the AWS Center for Quantum Networking.

Google Scholar.

Denis Sukachev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/denis-sukachev-73205b91/

Denis Sukachev is a quantum research scientist at the AWS Center for Quantum Networking. Denis has spent the last decade laying the groundwork for various quantum technologies.

In 2013, Denis got a PhD in Physics and Mathematics from the Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology where he was building novel atomic optical clocks. He then worked at Harvard University and the University of Calgary as a research associate on diamond quantum nanophotonics. Denis joined AWS in 2021 where he helped to launch the new AWS Center for Quantum Networking.

Google Scholar.

LinkedIn is outpacing Twitter in terms of discovering new thought leaders to follow in Quantum computing for me in 2022.

Final Take

With Amazon now dedicated to advanced quantum networking technologies and their applications, it makes you wonder at the possibilities.

Google making claims of Quantum Supremacy in 2019 was just a bit weird. IBM’s confidence in its own approach to Quantum is also just less then very believable. Amazon Braket however feels more pragmatic.

Denis and Mihir point out that like quantum computers, quantum networks are still at an early stage of development, with many outstanding challenges remaining before their full potential is reached. Through our investment in quantum research and workforce development, the AWS CQN aims to bring quantum network-enabled advances in privacy, security, and computational power one step closer to our customers.

I’d go so far as to say the early winners of Quantum computing commercialization are the leading Cloud players themselves. It’s not clear to me how Startups in the space can avoid being either acquired or picking sides in terms of vendors if they get too successful.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading!