Simon Phillips, Chief Technology Officer of Oxford Quantum Circuits, explains how quantum integration in colocation data centres can put quantum computing into the hands of millions of customers.
Quantum colocation is set to transform our digital world, by placing easily accessible, secure quantum compute capabilities into the hands of humanity. Now emerging in enterprise environments, quantum has taken a paradigm shift from the laboratory to real-world applications.
Colocation data centres offer an established network and secure connection to commercial end-users, which critically generates a seamless integration of quantum computers into their customers’ digital infrastructure. The integration of quantum into colocation data centre infrastructure opens the door for more businesses to harness the power of quantum computing in a cost-effective and scalable manner. Research by McKinsey anticipates industries such as automotive, chemicals, financial services, and life sciences could witness the earliest economic impact – potentially gaining up to $1.3 trillion in value by 2035.
Previously confined to research labs, the integration of a quantum computer into this environment is a game changer for clients hosted in colocation data centres. The pre-existing IT infrastructure, coupled with stable, redundant power systems, alleviates the need for businesses to invest millions into building their own quantum facilities and significantly reduces risks related to moving data. All whilst the robust and scalable setup of modern data centres provides the optimum environment to utilise the power of quantum computing, allowing easy, secure access that will enable life-changing discoveries.
Data centres consume significant amounts of energy and are estimated to be responsible for up to 3% of today’s global electricity consumption, with projections to reach 4% by 2030. A recent report by Savills outlines power capacity will total 9,000MW by 2025, with the number of data centres needing to increase by almost 2.5 times in order to meet demand.
By housing quantum computers, data centres are offering not just a solution to energy efficiency, but also to the physical infrastructure challenge by helping to institute a digital landscape where classical and quantum computing meet (by colocating) with one another. This integration potential is a tangible stride towards making quantum computing more accessible, thereby accelerating the pace at which industries can experiment with quantum computing to then harness the potential quantum advantage for real-world applications.
The relationship between data centres and quantum computing is a cornerstone of innovation, solving complex problems, and ultimately, propelling the global digital transformation agenda forward. As quantum data centres continue to evolve, they will undoubtedly shape the computing landscape of tomorrow, laying the foundation for a more accessible, scalable, and innovative era in quantum.
