Quantum computing cuts network optimization from one hour to under 15 seconds at AT&T

AT&T said a D-Wave quantum annealing system cut one network optimization task from about an hour to under 15 seconds.

The companies plan to test the technology for outage response, technician routing, traffic management, and network planning.

If the results hold in real operations, quantum computing could help AT&T manage complex telecom networks faster and more efficiently.

The potential payoff includes quicker outage recovery, better infrastructure planning, and improved support for fiber and 5G networks.