- A pilot project with Japan’s largest mobile service provider showed that the deployment of D-Wave’s annealing quantum computing solutions improved mobile network performance by 15%.
- D-Wave’s hybrid solver was able to process a task in just 40 seconds, compared to 27 hours with a general-purpose solver.
- The project demonstrated a significant reduction in signal congestion across base stations, which can potentially lead to more efficient transmission and cost savings.
- This collaboration marks an important step in applying and further integrating quantum computing in telecommunications.
D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) (“D-Wave”), a leader in quantum computing systems, software and services, and the first commercial provider of quantum computers, announced the results of a quantum optimization pilot project with Japan’s mobile phone operator NTT DOCOMO Inc. (“DOCOMO”), showing demonstrable improvements in mobile network performance (https://ibn.fm/JTeGD).
During the pilot program, DOCOMO, which is the largest mobile service provider in Japan with over 90 million subscriptions, found that decreasing paging signals during peak calling times by 15% can reduce congestion at base stations. This can potentially lead to improved efficiencies and lower infrastructure costs.
DOCOMO used D-Wave’s annealing quantum computing solutions to optimize base station tracking areas that send paging signals and process extensive historical data on device movements between stations. This allows DOCOMO to predict future movement patterns and to determine the best combination of base stations to maintain and re-establish connections as devices move between tracking areas.
“We anticipate that our quantum optimization strategy will further refine network efficiency, allowing us to maintain high-quality service without additional infrastructure investments as network traffic increases,” said Takatoshi Okagawa, director of research and development strategy at NTT DOCOMO. “With D-Wave’s hybrid quantum technology, we aim to set a new standard in the telecommunications industry for operational performance.”
The pilot project included demonstration experiments at base stations in Tokai, Chugoku and Kyushu areas, and results clearly showed D-Wave hybrid-quantum technology’s efficiency compared to classical methods. More specifically, a general-purpose solver took 27 hours to complete a task in the pilot, while D-Wave’s hybrid solver took just 40 seconds for the same task.
The pilot application used a large volume of log data to optimize groups of base stations that collectively send paging signals. The hybrid solver was able to predict the number of paging signals for all base stations’ combinations simultaneously, making it possible to determine the optimal tracking area in a very short time (https://ibn.fm/Ho42V). Tests showed that quantum optimization reduced paging signals by 15%, which allowed roughly 1.2 times more terminals to be connected during peak calling times. This can minimize the number of signals, offering a safety margin for base station resources and ensuring the stability of communication quality no matter how busy the network.
Following the pilot program, DOCOMO plans to deploy the annealing quantum computing solution into production at branch offices across Japan. The company is also exploring opportunities to apply quantum optimization across all of its business units, including finance, retail, traffic and logistics, and construction.
Commenting on the results of the program, Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, explained that telecommunication companies are generally faced with increasing operational complexities, including shifting consumer demand and 5G implementation, and therefore need innovative solutions to maintain their competitive edge. “DOCOMO’s successful pilot sends a clear signal — that today’s quantum technologies are capable of solving telcos’ complex optimization problems, with the potential to elevate customer satisfaction, maintain network performance and mitigate rising infrastructure costs,” Dr. Baratz added.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.DWaveQuantum.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to QBTS are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not be indicative of future results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release in making an investment decision, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no duty to update this information unless required by law.
