Telefonica to Create Quantum Research Center

Telefonica unveiled plans to create a center of excellence to coordinate its work on quantum technologies. Announcing the center, outgoing global CTIO Enrique Blanco and successor Andrea Folgueiras explained, Telefonica sees quantum technologies as the next step in a mission to serve society through connectivity.

Blanco said Telefonica had long designed the networks of the future based on the choice of the right architectures and technologies, as evidenced by deployments of 4G, 5G, and FTTH in recent years. Folgueiras said Telefonica’s approach would not change under her leadership, with plans to continue maturing open architectures, close down legacy infrastructure, integrate cloud and AI, and hyper-automating infrastructure and processes until they reach the autonomous network.

Telefonica’s center of excellence will coordinate innovative technologies, promote fresh connectivity approaches, and work with relevant third parties and research groups on quantum advances. The operator stated communications and cybersecurity; computing and simulation; and sensors and metrology would be the center’s pillars. Telefonica is a proponent of quantum, but it is equally cautious about the additional risks the technology poses. It noted the center would also engage in efforts to strengthen protections covering networks and customers as part of an ongoing approach of cryptographic agility involving systems that can react swiftly to threats.