Key Takeaways
- D-Wave Quantum unveiled a broader collaboration with AT&T, extending annealing quantum computing to additional network applications
- The telecom company plans to leverage the technology for network outage identification and traffic optimization
- Shares of QBTS surged 7.1% during premarket hours after the partnership news broke
- Competing quantum computing firms including IonQ, Rigetti, and Quantinuum also posted gains
- The expanded agreement follows previous success where D-Wave reduced processing time from 60 minutes to less than 15 seconds
Shares of D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) climbed 7.1% in premarket activity on Monday following confirmation of a strengthened partnership with telecommunications provider AT&T (T).
Under the expanded agreement, AT&T will integrate D-Wave’s annealing quantum computing systems into more segments of its network infrastructure, specifically targeting outage identification and traffic flow optimization.
The partnership isn’t new. The companies had already been collaborating on a smaller scale, with one notable use case demonstrating how D-Wave’s platform compressed a network optimization process from 60 minutes down to fewer than 15 seconds.
This latest development represents a significant escalation in AT&T’s commitment. The telecommunications company estimates the deployment could potentially eliminate approximately 12 million hours of customer downtime.
The announcement created positive momentum across the quantum computing sector. IonQ (IONQ) climbed 3.8%, Rigetti Computing (RGTI) advanced 3.4%, and Quantinuum (QNT) increased 2.8%.
QBTS shares initially posted double-digit percentage gains during early trading before moderating to the 7.1% increase.
Real-World Partnerships Validate Quantum Use Cases
For D-Wave, securing enterprise-level deployments like the AT&T arrangement represents a critical component of its expansion strategy. The firm has separately announced collaborations with Anduril and Davidson Technologies.
Chief Executive Alan Baratz noted that Anduril’s participation at D-Wave’s customer conference in recent months “really changed the view of the U.S. government.”
AT&T ranks among the nation’s largest telecommunications operators, serving approximately 74 million postpaid subscribers and 17 million prepaid accounts. Its endorsement holds significant influence with investors tracking practical quantum computing adoption.
D-Wave established itself as a pioneer in annealing quantum computing, a specialized architecture designed for optimization challenges. The company maintains its focus on this differentiated approach as the competitive landscape intensifies.
Strategic Acquisition Positions D-Wave for Gate-Model Competition
The firm’s ambitions extend beyond annealing technology. D-Wave completed the acquisition of Quantum Circuits this year, re-entering the gate-based quantum computing arena — the same methodology employed by competitors such as IBM.
The transaction was initially disclosed in 2021. The finalized acquisition formalized the strategic shift.
D-Wave published a comprehensive technical roadmap for gate-model platforms in June. The company aims to deliver a system exceeding one million quantum operations by 2032.
Gate-model architectures offer greater versatility across diverse computational challenges, positioning D-Wave to pursue opportunities across a broader spectrum of the quantum computing marketplace.
The expanded AT&T partnership was revealed on July 27, 2026.
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