Diraq's Eight-Qubit Computer Now Operational at Sydney Data Center

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 9, Australian-founded quantum computing company Diraq completed the deployment of an eight-qubit silicon spin quantum computer, with the system now operational at Equinix's commercial data center in Sydney, Australia. The device uses a silicon-based quantum processor, currently operates at under 20 kilowatts of power, and occupies approximately 15.8 square meters. Diraq positions it as the world's first silicon spin quantum computer to operate within a shared commercial data center, marking the project's transition from the prior equipment installation phase to actual operation and performance validation.

The equipment is deployed at Equinix's Sydney SY3 data center, integrating the quantum processor, cryogenic cooling system, and control electronics into existing data center infrastructure. Diraq builds its silicon spin qubits using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing processes similar to those used for conventional semiconductor chips. The system design allows the qubit count to be increased by swapping quantum processor chips, reducing the need for modifications to surrounding cooling, power, and facility infrastructure.

Diraq has made performance validation of the system in a data center environment its first-phase priority, focusing on examining how the silicon-based quantum chip performs within a commercial facility and comparing it with performance under laboratory test conditions at the University of New South Wales. Initial research will also involve external research teams conducting experiments using the prototype system. This deployment primarily validates the operational and integration capabilities of quantum hardware in an existing commercial data center environment.

The company plans to increase the qubit count of the same system to up to 256 within the next 12 months, with processor replacement as the primary scaling approach. According to Diraq's published subsequent design targets, future utility-scale quantum computing systems are expected to operate at approximately 300 kilowatts and occupy as little as approximately 5 square meters. The aforementioned 256-qubit and larger system parameters are subsequent R&D and engineering design targets.

Diraq and Equinix announced the Sydney deployment plan on September 1, 2026, with installation originally expected to be completed in October. The November 9 announcement confirms that the equipment is now operational, marking a new milestone from planned deployment to actual activation. The company is also exploring the possibility of further deploying quantum computing systems at a U.S. commercial data center in 2027.