Cisco and Qunnect have completed a 17.6‑kilometer quantum network that links Brooklyn to Manhattan using existing fiber‑optic cables. The system employs entanglement swapping, achieving local swapping rates of over 1.7 million pairs per hour and a deployed rate of approximately 5,400 pairs per hour, with signal fidelity exceeding 99%.
The deployment marks the first commercial‑grade quantum network in the United States and demonstrates that quantum entanglement can be reliably transmitted over noisy, urban fiber. The network uses Qunnect’s Carina product suite, which operates at room temperature at the endpoints while a centralized cryogenic cooling system at a hub maintains the quantum memory. This architecture addresses long‑standing challenges such as polarization drift and the need for cryogenic hardware at every node.
Cisco’s investment in Qunnect in June 2025 and the company’s broader quantum strategy position Cisco as a leader in quantum‑secure networking. Qunnect has already deployed networks in New York City and Berlin and has secured contracts with the U.S. Air Force, underscoring the commercial viability of its technology. The collaboration validates Qunnect’s approach and strengthens Cisco’s portfolio of quantum‑enabled security and networking solutions.
"Qunnect understands that quantum networking has to work in the real world, not just in pristine lab conditions. Their room‑temperature approach aligns with our quantum data center vision," said Vijoy Pandey, GM and Senior Vice President of Outshift by Cisco. "Qunnect has made a name for itself bringing entanglement‑based, quantum networking out of the lab and into the real world," added Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect. "This is a milestone the field has been waiting for, and it was proven possible by Cisco and Qunnect," remarked Mehdi Namazi, Co‑Founder and Chief Science Officer for Qunnect.
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