Telstra & SQC Pioneer Quantum Network Prediction

Out of the Lab and Into the Telecommunications Industry

For the past year, Telstra and Silicon Quantum Computing have been exploring a bold idea — could quantum computing make Australia’s largest network even smarter?

The challenge: predictive network analytics — the systems that help Telstra anticipate and fix network issues before customers even notice them.

Today, Telstra’s AI models already monitor vast amounts of data — things like latency, bandwidth, and performance patterns — to forecast demand and prevent disruptions.

But what if quantum could make that process faster, smarter, and more efficient?

Using SQC’s “Watermelon” quantum machine learning processor, the team tested how quantum-generated features could be integrated into Telstra’s AI models to improve predictive analytics.

The result? Comparable accuracy in days instead of weeks, and without the heavy GPU power demand of traditional AI systems.

By cutting computational load and training time, quantum reservoirs like Watermelon could redefine how network data is analysed and optimised.

Shailin Sehgal Telstra’s Group Executive of Global Networks and Technology, highlighted the strategic importance of the development “We’re constantly looking ahead to technologies that can help us create smarter connectivity experiences for our customers, from increased personalisation to issue prevention. Quantum computing is a promising frontier we’re exploring."

Professor Michelle Simmons, CEO of Silicon Quantum Computing said, "This is an exciting and important step forward in commercial adoption of quantum technologies."

"The collaboration with Telstra allowed us to test our quantum reservoir system, Watermelon, in a real-world telecommunications context – something few quantum companies have achieved. This partnership shows how quantum processors have moved beyond theory and into practical, scalable solutions that enhance Australia’s digital infrastructure."

The success of the Telstra-SQC collaboration demonstrates how quantum computing can integrate with telecom networks to deliver faster, more efficient predictive insights. This breakthrough lays the foundation for broader investigation of quantum technology in digital infrastructure.

Read more: https://www.sqc.com.au/news/telstra-and-sqc-explore-smarter-network-prediction