Quantum computers as a service are being deployed in data centers and are signaling their supply as enterprise solutions.

Equinix, a digital infrastructure solutions company, announced on the 20th that it will install a quantum computer at the Equinix TY11 IBX data center in Tokyo, Japan, in partnership with Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), a global Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) company. Through this announcement, the company aims to commercialize the most powerful quantum computer and support companies worldwide in utilizing it.

OQC plans to install quantum computer hardware at TY11 and utilize Equinix’s on-demand interconnection solution, ‘Equinix Fabric™’, to enable companies and organizations worldwide to use Quantum Computing as a Service on Equinix’s global platform in the second half of this year.

Enterprises connected to 'Equinix Fabric' can easily access quantum computing just as they would connect on-premises. By connecting directly to QCaaS within their own digital infrastructure, they can experience and test groundbreaking technologies more securely and easily. As it supports a wide range of fields from new drug discovery and development to risk management, finance, and advanced manufacturing, demand from organizations is expected to increase.

“As customers seek more innovative solutions, quantum computing has the potential to transform how business problems are solved today and in the future,” said Arun Dev, Global General Manager of Digital Interconnection at Equinix. “Through the quantum computer technology of Equinix and OQC, we are better fulfilling our commitment to supporting innovation, and we look forward to collaborating to address the key digital challenges facing enterprises.”

Andrew Buss, Senior Research Director at IDC, stated, “For data-driven businesses, maintaining differentiation and competitiveness requires the ability to quickly provide meaningful insights into increasingly complex scenarios.” He added, “That is why companies are investing in cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computers to innovate core capabilities that convert data centers into insights.”

He said, “IDC predicted that by 2026, 95% of companies will invest in computing technologies that derive faster insights from complex data sets and generate differentiated business outcomes. Providing Quantum Computers as a Service on a globally interconnected digital infrastructure will lower barriers such as cost, technology, and integration complexity, and open up quantum technology for more companies to test and use.”

Dr. Ilana Wisby OQC CEO Ilana Wisby stated, “We have taken a step closer to this reality by installing a quantum computer at the world-class Equinix TY11 data center,” adding that “quantum computing signifies a major shift in terms of technology and processes.” Wisby noted, “Unlike conventional computers, quantum computers processed vast amounts of data at an astonishing speed.”

George Freeman, the UK Secretary of State for Science and Technology, expressed confidence, stating, “Quantum computing will revolutionize processing speed and performance and create great opportunities in all fields, including improved cybersecurity, accelerated drug development, climate modeling, and reduced heat emissions from computing.”

He said, “We are investing about £1 billion over the next 10 years to enable leading global companies to invest in the UK and drive economic growth,” adding, “I recently visited Japan to strengthen strategic cooperation in the fields of computer science and technology. This announcement demonstrates that the alliance between the UK and Japan is playing a key role in the global competition for the quantum industry.”