IonQ Expands Quantum Networking Patent Portfolio to Meet Strong Market Demand for Secure Communications

IonQ announced strong momentum toward its technological roadmap with a portfolio of nearly 400 granted and pending quantum networking patents that IonQ owns or controls in the U.S. and internationally.

In support of its networking roadmap, IonQ acquired the quantum networking company Qubitekk at the end of 2024 and last week announced it has secured a controlling stake of ID Quantique, a global leader in quantum safe networking and sensing. The IDQ transaction expanded IonQ’s owned or controlled patent portfolio with nearly 250 networking patents from IDQ.

With over a decade of investments in quantum networking, Qubitekk’s and IonQ’s progress and achievements have resulted in two quantum networking contracts with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for $54.5 million and $21.1 million. IonQ also won a $5.7 million contract with the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) to build and install quantum network infrastructure.

“Quantum networking and quantum computing for IonQ are highly synergistic, and we believe that IonQ is the only quantum computing company that has an inherent leadership advantage in the quantum networking market segment,” said Niccolo de Masi, President and CEO of IonQ. “Our extensive patent portfolio in quantum networking technologies, paired with our consistent delivery and outperformance of quantum networking technological and business milestones, enables new market opportunities to help our customers solve problems unsolvable with current technologies.”

IonQ has already commercialized quantum networking. Through the acquisition of Qubitekk, IonQ boasts a commercially available quantum network, the EPB Quantum Network, located in Chattanooga Tennessee. Managed by IonQ, the EPB Quantum Network is available for public and private sector researchers and technologists to run quantum equipment and applications in an established fiber optic environment. Additionally, IonQ’s agreement with IDQ provides access to IDQ’s decades of expertise in commercialized quantum networking and quantum-safe communication technology. This includes recent examples such as IDQ’s deployment of a 800km-long nationwide network in South Korea, as well as its involvement in key projects within Europe’s quantum communications infrastructure.

The total quantum communication market segment size is projected to reach upwards of $14.9 billion by 2035, according to a new McKinsey report. Per the new report, the growth in quantum networking is driven by the growing need for scaling quantum computing through distributed networks, heightened awareness of the need for new data security solutions, and new unique capabilities like quantum sensing and ultra-accurate time synchronization in emerging technical fields. 

Source: IonQ media announcement