IonQ & Partners Launch City-Scale Quantum Network in Geneva

6 Nov 2025 – Quantum networking is moving from the lab to city streets – literally – in Geneva, Switzerland. On November 5, U.S.-based IonQ and a consortium of Swiss partners announced the deployment of the Geneva Quantum Network (GQN), the country’s first dedicated metropolitan quantum communication network. This public-private project links key institutions across the city (and canton) of Geneva with optical fiber infrastructure equipped for quantum data transmission.

The GQN connects nodes at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), CERN, Rolex SA, Geneva’s University of Applied Sciences (HEPIA), and the cantonal government’s IT office, among others. Hundreds of kilometers of existing fiber optics were used to create a web that spans the metro area. Over these fibers, the network will support quantum key distribution (QKD) – the exchange of encryption keys via quantum signals – and experiments with entangled photons shared between sites.

A notable feature is the integration of ultra-precise time synchronization across the network. Using CERN’s “White Rabbit” timing system and atomic clocks provided by Rolex, the GQN distributes timing signals of extreme precision to all nodes. This ensures that the measurements and QKD systems at different locations stay phase-aligned, which is crucial for quantum communications and sensor networks. It’s a unique collaboration: a luxury watchmaker’s cutting-edge clock technology being used to synchronize a quantum network (Rolex has an advanced optical rubidium clock).

The hardware for quantum communication on GQN comes significantly from ID Quantique (IDQ), a Geneva-based QKD company in which IonQ acquired a majority stake earlier this year. IDQ’s QKD systems and single-photon detectors are installed at the network nodes and along the fiber backbone. The plan is to perform “entanglement swapping” experiments – for instance, sending entangled photon pairs between UNIGE, CERN and HEPIA – to test quantum information transfer and potentially lay groundwork for a future quantum internet.

IonQ’s role in Geneva might seem surprising, given it’s primarily a quantum computing hardware company. But under CEO Niccolo de Masi, IonQ has emphasized integrating quantum computing, networking, and sensing as part of an overarching strategy. By supporting initiatives like GQN, IonQ is effectively helping build out the quantum ecosystem in regions around the world (they also recently announced a “Q-Alliance” hub in Italy and an EMEA headquarters in Oxford, UK). De Masi stated that IonQ’s involvement in GQN “underscores our IP and leadership in quantum cybersecurity and communication” and helps “accelerate research and build IonQ’s ecosystem across broad sectors”.

For Geneva and Switzerland, this network is a showcase project. It demonstrates how existing fiber infrastructure can be leveraged for cutting-edge quantum tech – a boost for quantum-safe cybersecurity and innovation. The local government’s support (the Canton of Geneva’s OCSIN office is a partner) indicates an interest in being at the forefront of secure communications for finance and diplomacy (Geneva hosts many UN and international bodies). The GQN will also serve as a public demonstrator: citizens and businesses can see tangible quantum tech (not just isolated lab experiments) in their region.

Overall, the Geneva Quantum Network is a milestone on the road to the quantum internet. It’s one of the first examples of a city-scale quantum network that isn’t just a research demo but involves diverse users and real infrastructure. As IonQ and its partners continue experiments, the GQN could become a template for other cities looking to implement quantum communication backbones for secure data and advanced sensing. And for IonQ, it’s a strategic foothold in Europe – weaving its technology into the fabric of a historic tech-savvy city and showing that quantum companies can do more than just build computers; they can build networks and solutions, too.