Quantum Technologies Key Strategies and Opportunities for ICT Leaders 2025

Case studies Quantum computing So what? Competitive advantage Quantum computing will offer superior performance for complex computations, leading to breakthroughs in optimization, cryptography and simulation. Innovation driver Quantum computing enhances innovations in ICT by potentially improving data analytics, optimizing network performance and enabling advanced cybersecurity measures. How? Strategic exploration of quantum Identify key areas where quantum computing can add strategic value and develop a detailed plan for its integration into business operations. Identify use cases Initiate pilot projects, form partnerships, develop training, prioritize quantum use cases and stay updated on advancements to drive innovations.Quantum computing is set to revolutionize industries by delivering unparalleled computational power and enabling breakthrough applications. Strategic adoption of quantum computing technology will provide a competitive edge and drive significant innovations in organizations. Optimizing legacy telecommunications with quantum-inspired technology Value chain segment: midstream – infrastructure, operations and service provision; benefit: reduced operational costs Legacy systems in industries like telecommunications, logistics and manufacturing have inefficiencies that lead to high costs, resource waste and slow modernization, costing billions of dollars annually. Optimizing and migrating these systems is challenging due to their complexity and traditional methods’ limitations. Katsuhiko Arao from Fujitsu stated, “Legacy systems are not just costly to maintain – they also hinder innovations. Our quantum-inspired Digital Annealer technology addresses these barriers, offering rapid, scalable solutions.” Fujitsu, in partnership with the University of Toronto, uses Digital Annealer (i.e. simulates quantum behaviour) to solve large- scale optimization problems. This technology has demonstrated transformative potential, cutting operational costs by up to 30% and transport costs by up to 80% during the network modernization period, typically lasting a few months to a year. The collaboration highlights the importance of academia- industry partnerships in advancing technology. Digital Annealer not only reduces costs but also decreases resource consumption and waste, aligning with global priorities like the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Fujitsu’s work with quantum-inspired computing demonstrates its potential to revolutionize industries, enhance efficiency and support a sustainable, interconnected global economy.Source: Fujitsu. (2023). Fujitsu and University of Toronto optimize network transformation with Digital Annealer to help customers significantly cut network operations costs Optimizing customer engagement in the telecommunications industry with quantum computing Value chain segment: downstream – customer support and customer engagement platform; benefit: resilient supply chain The telecom industry is currently facing significant challenges in engaging customers effectively. With the rapid evolution of services and the increasing complexity of customer interactions, traditional methods are struggling to keep up. AT&T’s Next Best eXperience (NBX) proof of concept (PoC) project applied quantum annealing to optimize customer engagement. By analysing customer data, NBX suggests the best sequence of experiences to present during an interaction, balancing customer needs and AT&T’s return on investment. This involves using statistical techniques to create propensity scores for each experience, which measure the likelihood of a customer’s need and engagement. With NBX, AT&T aims to determine the optimal sequence of experiences for customers within a specific engagement or timeframe. This PoC project uses innovative methods (such as integer programming and quantum optimizations) to solve this complex problem. The use of quantum computing in NBX not only enhances customer satisfaction and retention but also addresses the growing complexity of the telecommunications ecosystem. FIGURE 2 Quantum Technologies: Key Strategies and Opportunities for ICT Leaders 9