IonQ Achieves Record 1 kHz Quantum Interconnect Speed

• Photonic interconnect generates more than 1,000 quantum connections per second between a trapped ion qubit and a silicon vacancy quantum memory.
• That entanglement rate is fast enough to support distributed quantum computing and other use cases.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Oct. 9, 2026 - IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading full-stack quantum platform and foundry, today announced the achievement of entanglement rates above 1,000 per second (1 kHz) between a trapped ion qubit and a solid-state memory, through a photonic interconnect. Entanglement is the quantum connection that lets separate systems work together, and it is the essential ingredient for networking quantum computers. While the trapped ion qubit sets the standard for qubit coherence, the solid-state quantum memory has unmatched efficiency coupling to light. Their juxtaposition is the best of both worlds, demonstrating the fastest quantum interconnect rate between qubits of any platform. 

“IonQ has crossed a pivotal milestone for memory enhanced quantum interconnects, achieving more than 1,000 entanglement events per second,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. “Classical data centers achieved massive scale by connecting specialized processors, memory, and networks. Quantum systems will scale in much the same way. This breakthrough addresses a critical interconnect bottleneck and advances IonQ’s roadmap to build the networked quantum data centers of the future.”