Cisco Systems, Inc.

A working research prototype designed to connect quantum systems from different vendors, in all major encoding modalities, at room temperature, over standard telecom fiber

News Summary:

• The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is designed to route quantum information between systems while preserving it, with a Cisco-patented conversion engine that translates between all encoding and entanglement modalities at input and output.
• In proof-of-concept experiments, the switch preserved quantum information with less than 4% degradation in encoding and entanglement fidelity. The complete findings are expected to be published in an upcoming research paper on ArXiv.

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced the Cisco Universal Quantum Switch, a critical milestone in quantum networking that addresses one of the most fundamental barriers to building a quantum network. As a working research prototype, it is the latest proof point in Cisco's accelerating full-stack quantum networking program, built on years of foundational research, real-world demonstrations, and a growing ecosystem of strategic collaborations.

Quantum computers encode information in different ways, and until now, no switch could accept and translate between all major encoding modalities without destroying the quantum information in the process. The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is designed to address this challenge for the first time, routing quantum information while preserving it at room temperature, on existing telecom fiber, with a Cisco-patented conversion engine that translates between encoding modalities at input and output.

"Reaching this milestone is a pivotal moment for our quantum program and a testament to the transformative potential of quantum networking," said Vijoy Pandey, SVP/GM of Outshift, Cisco's Emerging Technologies and Incubation Group. "We've long recognized that connecting quantum systems is the key to achieving true scalability, and now we've taken a critical step toward making that vision a reality. While this is a significant achievement, it's just the beginning. The road ahead is long, yet the impact of what we are building—and what is still to come—will be nothing short of profound."

Cisco Is Building the Network Layer for the Quantum Era

Today's quantum computers are powerful but limited, operating at hundreds of qubits when real-world applications in healthcare, financial services, and aerospace will need millions to achieve unheard of speeds and technological breakthroughs. Cisco believes networking and connectivity are central to bridging that gap. The quantum future will not be built by any one company or any one technology. It will be built by connecting them all.

Imagine connecting billions of people and tens of billions of devices with direct cables. It would be unmanageable. The internet became possible because classical switches could connect all of those endpoints through a shared, scalable network. The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch does the same thing for quantum. When two quantum computers need to share information, it accepts the signal in whatever modality it arrives, translates it into a common language for routing, and delivers it in the format the receiving system needs, without losing any quantum information along the way.

This is made possible by a Cisco-patented conversion engine at the heart of the quantum switch. The output modality can match the input or be an entirely different one, enabling the quantum switch to connect and translate between quantum systems that were never designed to talk to each other, a critical capability for building quantum networks that work across different vendors and technologies.

The quantum switch is designed to support all major quantum encoding modalities used to carry information:

• Polarization (the orientation of light waves)
• Time-Bin (the timing of light pulses)
• Frequency-Bin (the color or frequency of light)
• Path (the physical or spatial path)

To date, the quantum switch has been experimentally validated with polarization encoding. Support for time-bin and frequency-bin is built into the design and represents the next step in Cisco's ongoing validation process.

Proof-of-Concept Experiments and Results

The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch was tested by Cisco researchers using Cisco's own entanglement source and single-photon detectors. In these experiments, the switch demonstrated that quantum information can be routed and converted across systems quickly, accurately, and efficiently, without destroying it in the process.

Key findings include:

• Quantum information preserved through conversion: Less than 4% degradation in quantum state fidelity and entanglement, maintaining the coherence that quantum networks require to function.
• Switching at the speed quantum networks demand: Sub nano-second electro-optic switching, reconfiguring connections in as little as 1 nanosecond
• Energy efficient: Consumes less than 1 milliwatt of power

Powering the Quantum Network of the Future

Quantum networking is in a nascent state. There is no established infrastructure connecting quantum systems, and most can only communicate with other systems that encode information the same way they do.

The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is an entirely new approach:

• Unique in its nature: Current switch technology is limited to one encoding type. The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is designed to support all major modalities, with a built-in conversion capability that is Cisco-patented and available in no other product on the market today.
• Room-temperature operation: Unlike many quantum hardware components that require cryogenic cooling, Cisco's Universal Quantum Switch operates at room temperature. This eliminates the need for specialized cooling infrastructure, reducing both deployment complexity and cost.
• Works with existing infrastructure: It operates at standard telecom frequencies over the same fiber that carries internet traffic today, requiring no specialized equipment.
• Connects systems that could not previously communicate: Organizations are no longer locked into a single vendor ecosystem. It enables quantum devices from different manufacturers to interoperate, protecting existing investments and enabling best-of-breed quantum environments.
• Designed for the full stack: The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is built as part of Cisco's evolving end-to-end architecture for a distributed quantum network, spanning hardware, software, and application layers.

Cisco's Vision for What Comes Next

For more than four decades, Cisco has built infrastructure that connects the world. The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is the latest milestone in that journey, reflecting Cisco's conviction that the road to practical quantum computing will be built via a distributed network of interconnected quantum devices in a matter of years, not decades.

The Cisco Universal Quantum Switch is one part of a broader quantum networking portfolio that includes Cisco's quantum network entanglement chip, which generates the entangled photons that quantum networks rely on to transmit information, and Cisco's industry-first network-aware Quantum Compiler, which orchestrates how quantum algorithms are distributed and executed across multiple quantum processors. All three were developed from the ground up at Cisco's dedicated quantum labs in Santa Monica. Together, along with applications like Quantum Sync and Quantum Alert, these innovations contribute to Cisco's vision for a full quantum network stack, from the hardware that generates and routes quantum information, to the software that manages it, to the applications that put it to work. Cisco is also advancing this vision through strategic collaborations with IBM, Qunnect, Atom Computing and more.

Additional Resources:

• The switch that quantum networking has been waiting for
• Quantum Networking: How Cisco is Accelerating Practical Quantum Computing
• Cisco Quantum, Cisco Research & Quantum Research
• Register for upcoming Cisco Universal Quantum Switch webinar

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity, and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

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FONTE Cisco Systems, Inc.

News Summary

• Two‑thirds of industrial organizations have moved to active AI deployments in live operational environments.
• Network readiness and security posture are cited as the primary factors shaping how quickly and safely organizations scale AI across connected assets, machines, and sites.
• Strong IT/OT collaboration correlates with greater confidence in scaling AI, more stable network infrastructure, and stronger emphasis on cybersecurity.

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced the release of its latest annual industrial research report, the State of Industrial AI Report, examining how critical infrastructure like factories, utilities, and transportation systems are accelerating their direct deployments of AI. The report provides a data‑driven view into how industrial organizations are adopting AI, the challenges they face as AI moves into live operations, and the opportunities created as AI becomes embedded in physical systems, infrastructure, and workflows.

The double-blind global study surveyed more than 1,000 operational technology (OT) decision‑makers across 19 countries and 21 industrial sectors. The findings show that AI is now delivering measurable operational benefits in use cases such as process automation, automated quality inspection, predictive maintenance, logistics, and energy forecasting. However, many organizations are increasingly constrained by readiness gaps in networking infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT/OT operating models as AI shifts into real‑time, production‑grade use in physical environments.

"Industrial AI is moving from experimentation into production, where AI systems sense, reason, and act in the real world," said Vikas Butaney, SVP/GM of Secure Routing and Industrial IoT at Cisco. "At this stage, success is no longer determined by models alone, but by whether networks, security, and teams are ready to support AI at the edge, in motion, and at scale. The research shows that organizations confident in scaling AI are those treating infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT/OT collaboration as foundational, not optional."

Key Takeaways from the State of Industrial AI Report

The survey shows industrial AI has moved from a future consideration to active deployment, with 61% of organizations now using AI in live industrial operations where performance, reliability, and security have direct physical consequences, and 20% reporting scaled, mature deployments. Across manufacturing, transportation, and utilities, AI is powering machine vision, robotics, mobility, and safety‑critical operations. Most organizations plan to increase AI spending (83%), and nearly nine in ten expect meaningful outcomes within the next two years (87%). Yet as adoption accelerates, many are struggling to sustain and expand deployments, with readiness across network infrastructure, security, and skills increasingly determining whether AI can scale consistently across core physical environments.

• Infrastructure readiness is emerging as a primary determinant of scale. As AI becomes embedded in machines, sensors, vision systems, and autonomous operations, organizations face rising demands for reliable connectivity, wireless mobility, predictable latency, edge compute, and power, making network readiness a gating factor for physical AI deployments.
  • 97% expect AI workloads to impact their industrial network requirements
  • 51% of organizations expect AI workloads to increase connectivity and reliability requirements in their industrial networks
  • 96% say wireless networking is essential to enabling AI

• Cybersecurity is shaping both the pace and confidence of AI adoption. As AI expands connectivity and data flows across industrial environments, security remains the top barrier to scale. At the same time, organizations increasingly view AI as part of the solution, with a majority expecting AI to strengthen monitoring, detection, and operational resilience.
  • 98% say cybersecurity is foundational for AI-ready infrastructure
  • 40% cite cybersecurity as the biggest obstacle to scaling AI
  • 85% expect AI to improve their cybersecurity posture

• IT/OT collaboration is proving critical to operationalizing AI at scale. Organizations with closer collaboration between IT and operational teams report greater confidence in expanding AI, more stable networks supporting physical operations, and a stronger emphasis on cybersecurity as a baseline requirement, underscoring the need to build the skills required for scalable AI adoption.
  • 57% report some level of IT/OT collaboration
  • 43% report limited or no collaboration
  • 47% of organizations with limited IT/OT collaboration cite network instability as a top operational challenge to scale AI

Background:

• The State of Industrial AI Report is based on data from a global survey of more than 1,000 operational technology decision‑makers, conducted by Cisco in association with Sapio Research.
• Survey respondents were from 19 countries and across 21 industry sectors, representing a range of industries including manufacturing, transportation/logistics, energy/utilities and more.
• The report aggregates findings from decision-makers at companies with annual revenues of more than $100 million.

Additional Resources:

• Download the State of Industrial AI Report
• Download the State of Industrial AI Report for EMEA
• Download the State of Industrial AI Report for Manufacturing
• Download the State of Industrial AI Report for Transportation
• Download the State of Industrial AI Report for Utilities
• Blog: Industrial AI: Progress, Pressure, and the Path to Scale 
• Learn more about Cisco Industrial IoT

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. 

Disclaimer: Many of the products and features mentioned are still in development and will be made available as they are finalized, subject to ongoing evolution in development and innovation. The timeline for their release is subject to change. 

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FONTE Cisco Systems, Inc.