After announcing the launch of Braket, a quantum computing service, in 2019 and expanding the service's hardware specifications in April of this year to include the new quantum processing unit, Lucy, AWS recently announced the establishment of the Amazon Center for Quantum Networking (CQN), which aims to address the fundamental scientific and engineering challenges of quantum computing and develop new hardware, software, and applications for quantum networks.
Quantum computing is likely to revolutionize science and technology in the future. Consequently, numerous government agencies and technology companies have invested heavily in the research and development of quantum computers over the past decade. Quantum computing has seen significant growth, evolving from sophisticated experimental systems previously accessible only to a handful of research institutions to computing resources accessible through cloud services like Amazon Braket, enabling researchers, developers, and even quantum computing enthusiasts worldwide to utilize it.
Although quantum computing remains an important area that researchers from all walks of life are actively engaged in, it is only one part of the development of quantum technology.
To unleash the full potential of quantum devices, they need to be connected into a quantum network, much like devices connected via an internet. Quantum networks share the same potential as quantum computers. One application is quantum key distribution (QKD), which protects global communications and achieves privacy and security standards unattainable with traditional encryption. They can also connect individual quantum processors and amplify their capabilities, creating powerful and secure cloud-based quantum servers.
Quantum networks are still in their early stages of development. Much like the development of quantum computers, many significant challenges remain before their full potential can be realized. Through continued investment in quantum research and technical personnel development, AWS will leverage the Quantum Network Center to further advance the privacy, security, and computational capabilities of quantum networks, bringing quantum computing closer to customers.
