AT&T expands D-Wave Quantum partnership to tackle network optimization with quantum computing

AT&T expands quantum computing partnership with D-Wave By Investing.com

PALO ALTO, Calif. & DALLAS - AT&T has signed an agreement to expand its use of D-Wave Quantum Inc.'s (NASDAQ:QBTS) quantum computing technology to address optimization challenges across its network operations, according to a press release statement issued today. In early testing, AT&T reduced processing time for a network optimization workload from approximately one hour to less than 15 seconds using D-Wave's quantum technology. The telecommunications company plans to integrate D-Wave's annealing quantum computing technology into tools supporting its agentic AI solutions. AT&T's agentic tools reduced customer downtime by 12 million hours in 2025 through improvements in network operations including outage detection and management. The company plans to explore quantum computing applications across outage detection and response, technician routing, network build planning, and traffic management. "D-Wave's annealing quantum computing technology gives us a new way to approach optimization and high-intensity compute challenges across AT&T's network operations," said Lucus Haugen, director of Data Science for AT&T's Chief Data Office. AT&T (NYSE:T) is evaluating D-Wave's gate-model systems for potential applications in quantum security and quantum communications. The agreement is part of AT&T's strategy to apply quantum computing, AI, automation, and advanced analytics to modernize its network infrastructure. D-Wave describes itself as the first commercial supplier of quantum computers and the only company offering dual-platform quantum computing products spanning both annealing and gate-model technologies. The company provides quantum computing systems through on-premises installations and its Leap quantum cloud service. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, stated that AT&T has complex optimization problems across its network operations and is exploring where quantum computing can make an impact. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

D-Wave Quantum puts quantum computing to work for AT&T

The initial goal is to integrate D-Wave's quantum computing technology into the tools that already power AT&T's agentic AI solutions. These new quantum capabilities could help boost agent performance in AT&T's network operations. The group said the agentic tools deployed on AT&T's network are improving operations, including outage detection and management, cutting service interruptions for customers by 12m hours in 2025. In a first use case, the US telecommunications giant has already used D-Wave's technology to cut the processing time for a network optimization workload from about an hour to less than 15 seconds. Building on that initial work, AT&T plans to explore the use of D-Wave's quantum computing technology across a broader range of applications, such as outage detection and resolution, technician routing, network build planning and traffic management. Through these applications, it will examine how faster processing could translate into faster, more accurate planning, as it expands its converged fiber and 5G network to meet growing demand driven by AI. AT&T is also evaluating D-Wave's future gate-model systems for potential applications in quantum security and quantum communications.

AT&T Aims to Expand Use of Quantum Computing With D-Wave Partnership

AT&T entered an agreement with D-Wave Quantum, expanding its use of the company's quantum computing technology to address optimization challenges across its network. The mobile carrier on Monday said it would initially focus on incorporating D-Wave's technology into its agentic artificial-intelligence solutions. AT&T added that its agentic tools are improving network operations, helping to detect outages and limit customer downtime. In early application, AT&T has used D-Wave's technology to greatly reduce the processing time for a network optimization workload. Moving forward, the company said it will explore using quantum computing technologies across a broader set of applications such as outage detection and response, technician routing, network build planning, and traffic management. "D-Wave's annealing quantum computing technology gives us a new way to approach optimization and high-intensity compute challenges across AT&T's network operations," said Lucus Haugen, director of data science for AT&T's chief data office. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed. Shares of D-Wave jumped 8%, to $17.53, in premarket trading, while shares of AT&T were mostly flat. D-Wave Chief Executive Alan Baratz said the company's agreement with AT&T shows how businesses can turn to quantum computing to solve problems. "AT&T has incredibly complex optimization problems across its network operations, understands where classical computing is challenged, and is moving quickly to explore where quantum can make an impact," Baratz said.