Will quantum computers be the next big thing in the data center space? Most quantum optimists (i.e., those who believe that quantum computers are more or less ready for real-world use) would say yes.
As quantum computers evolve from experimental systems to production-ready resources that companies use at scale, data centers are clearly where they can survive, but that doesn't necessarily mean that most data centers will soon be the ultimate destination for quantum devices.
The speed at which quantum computers can get into traditional data centers, or the speed at which data centers evolve to accommodate quantum devices, can be slow.
The current state of quantum computers
As of 2024, quantum computers can perform operations thousands of times faster using quantum mechanics than traditional computers, and have come a long way from just a few years ago.
While we don't yet have quantum computers that are reliable enough, cheap enough, and scalable enough to handle everyday workloads, big tech companies like Google and IBM are already running quantum devices that can handle real-world tasks.
For this reason, many observers believe that we are close to achieving quantum utility – meaning that quantum computers can be widely deployed.
Quantum computers and quantum data centers
Despite advances in quantum computing technology, there is little convergence between the quantum computer and data center industries. Most quantum devices are only used in dedicated data centers, not everyday data centers that host traditional infrastructure.
To be sure, some quantum computer operators refer to these facilities (such as Google's Quantum Lab in Santa Barbara) as "quantum data centers," but they are not data centers in the traditional sense; Rather, it is a building built specifically to house a quantum computer.
However, there is good reason to expect that traditional data centers (which currently host traditional servers, not quantum computers) will also become the home of quantum devices. After all, quantum computers have the same basic needs as classical computers when it comes to space, energy, and cooling equipment. It makes as much sense to deploy quantum devices in the data center as x86 or ARM servers.
Plans for this are already underway: last year, Equinix announced a partnership with quantum computing vendor Quantum Circuits to deploy quantum computers in Equinix data centers. Equinix said the deployment would be completed "by the end of 2023", but the companies do not appear to have achieved this. Still, their move is significant, as it represents one of the first efforts to bring quantum computers to traditional data centers.
Quantum challenges in data centers
While some progress has been made in transforming data centers into homes for quantum computers, we may not see large-scale deployments of these types in the near future. The quantum computing industry and the data center industry still face serious challenges.
When it comes to quantum computing, the demand for real-world quantum devices needs to ramp up before we are likely to see more companies show interest in deploying quantum computers in data centers. Although quantum computers have made significant leaps forward in recent years, most are still only used for experimental or proof-of-concept purposes. There are analysts** who say this will change in the coming years as companies make massive investments in quantum infrastructure, most of which may be within data centers, but this has not happened yet.
For the data center industry, many facilities require some physical modifications to become ideal homes for quantum computers. Currently, traditional data centers provide the core space and resources needed for quantum devices to operate, but quantum computers have some unique needs, such as additional protection against electromagnetic interference, which most data centers can't currently provide.
The good news is that in most cases, meeting these requirements doesn't require a rebuild of the data center from scratch. Data centers can be retrofitted to become quantum-friendly, but few data centers have experienced such a change – and given the low demand for deploying quantum devices in data centers, few data center operators have a strong incentive to optimize their quantum computing facilities.
As a result, the chicken-and-egg question must be overcome before quantum data centers become a universal reality: data center operators are unlikely to invest in the changes needed to adapt to quantum hardware until more enterprises look to deploy quantum computers in their data centers. But until then, there's no reason for companies to transform their data centers into quantum computer homes.
Quantum data centers are making slow but steady progress
Step by step, we are shaping a world in which quantum computers are becoming commonplace in data centers, but it will be at least a few years away.
In the near future, the closest we can get to a quantum data center is probably a small-scale proof of concept, such as Equinix's quantum computer deployment pilot. This is expected to change, but not too soon.