WASHINGTON — Quantum computing firm IonQ Inc. said it has agreed to acquire Skyloom Global, a Colorado-based provider of space-based optical communications terminals, marking another step in IonQ’s effort to extend quantum networking infrastructure beyond Earth’s surface.
The deal, announced Nov. 11 by IonQ Chairman and Chief Executive Niccolò de Masi during a CNBC interview, reflects the company’s growing ambitions in the convergence of quantum computing, secure communications and satellite technology. A company spokesperson told <em>SpaceNews that IonQ is not releasing financial terms or other details of the agreement.
“We entered an agreement just recently to acquire a company called Skyloom,” de Masi said. “This is building on our investments in quantum networking and signals, both on the ground and in space.”
Skyloom develops optical data transport links that enable high-bandwidth data transfer between satellites and ground stations. Its terminals have been deployed on U.S. military satellites produced by York Space Systems.
The acquisition is the latest effort by IonQ, based in College Park, Maryland, to broaden its footprint in the quantum and space sectors. Earlier this year, the company acquired radar-imaging satellite maker Capella Space.
“We’re ultimately building a platform for quantum key distribution, not just on the ground, but also up into space with satellites,” de Masi said of IonQ’s recent acquisitions.
Quantum key distribution, or QKD, uses the principles of quantum mechanics to create and share encryption keys between two parties. Any attempt to intercept the transmission alters the quantum state of the system, alerting users to potential eavesdropping. The technology is viewed as a cornerstone of future secure communication networks, especially as conventional encryption faces long-term threats from emerging quantum computers.
By integrating Skyloom’s on-orbit optical communications capabilities with its own quantum computing and sensing technologies, IonQ aims to build what it describes as a global, secure quantum network. Such a system would support high-performance data transfer required for QKD and other applications demanding extreme security and low latency.
IonQ’s acquisition of Skyloom is subject to customary closing conditions, and the company has not disclosed a timeline for completion.