The growth in the number of users of information networks often leads to their overload, which causes delays and interruptions in user service. At the same time, the growing complexity of networks and their applications makes it difficult to control and manage the network.
VTT, one of Europe’s leading research institutions, has launched a project to explore how quantum computing can be used to solve growing networking challenges.
Combinatorial problems
As more and more people use network resources simultaneously, for example during large events, wireless networks are facing congestion and performance degradation. The problem is unlikely to ease in the future, as the 6G era will further increase the number of complex applications and users.
These challenges can be defined as combinatorial problems that involve determining the order of service for different users and the routes that should be used to transmit traffic to ensure that everyone receives the promised quality of service.
“Many people are familiar with the so-called traveling salesman’s problem, which refers to the order in which a salesman should visit different cities to keep his route as short as possible. The complexity of the problem grows exponentially as more and more options become available. Similarly, as telecommunication networks become more complex and the number of applications that use them increases, so does the number of combinations of parameters that need to be optimized. This makes it increasingly difficult to decide in what order and with what resources to serve different users,” says Kari Seppenen, Senior Researcher leading the project at VTT.
So far, combinatorial problems have mostly been solved using heuristic methods, i.e. by simplifying the problem. However, these methods tend to provide approximate answers, which in certain situations can lead to poor performance. On the other hand, optimization methods based on statistics and data consume a significant amount of energy and may not be suitable for dynamic situations where a quick response to changes is required, especially when there is no connection to the server.
Hybrid algorithms
In the VTT research project, combinatorial problems are solved using hybrid algorithms that combine quantum and classical computing. Hybrid algorithms allow optimizing the strengths of both computational approaches, which ultimately leads to an increase in network capacity. Demanding applications can receive the required quality of service even in a congested network, while saving energy.
“At this stage, quantum computers are already able to quickly generate new and more accurate solutions, which can then be evaluated using classical computers. The opposite is also true: classical heuristics can be improved by quantum algorithms. In the hybrid approach, algorithms and results are iteratively processed many times on both sides until the optimal result is achieved,” says Seppenen.
Achieve a concrete result in the near future
The VTT research project involves experts in telecommunications, cryptography and quantum technologies and will bring a lot of new knowledge to the development of quantum algorithms.
“It is very important that Finnish companies are among the first to utilize the potential of quantum computing, as we are already pioneers in the development of quantum technologies and networks of the future. This is a unique project that can open up completely new opportunities for the application of quantum technologies. The goal is to put the research to good use as soon as possible,” says Seppenen.
In addition to VTT, several Finnish companies are participating in the project, including Nokia Bell Labs, Cumucore, and Unitary Zero Space. They brought with them the problems that the project will address.
“Very few technologies have such a global impact as wireless communication and quantum technologies. Finland is in a unique position, having such a strong foundation in both of these fields. Therefore, the intersection of these areas studied in the project is ripe for breakthrough innovations,” says Topias Uotila, founder and head of Qubit Zero at Unitary Zero Space Oy.
“Quantum computing can help solve combinatorial problems common in communication networks, including resource allocation, routing and scheduling, and network planning. Nokia, which is currently leading the European flagship 6G projects – Hexa-X and Hexa-X-II – is bringing its telecommunications expertise to further the development of 6G through hybrid classical and quantum computing,” said Karthik Upadhyaya, Senior Research Scientist at Nokia Bell Labs.
Supercomputers and AI
The research also aims to utilize the LUMI supercomputer. The goal is to combine the computations performed on the quantum computer and the VTT supercomputer with VTT’s 5G and 6G networks and demonstrate their ability to solve specific practical problems. The research also focuses on lattice problems and quantum-secure encryption methods.
“Quantum computing, along with artificial intelligence, are technologies that will bring mobile networks to a new level of speed, security, and automation. Cumucore is proud to be part of this project, leveraging its expertise in 6G to explore the potential of quantum computing to deliver human-centered yet ultra-secure communications,” says Jose Costa-Requena, CEO of Cumucore Oy.
The project, titled “Combinatorial Optimization with Hybrid Quantum-Classical Algorithms,” started in July 2023 and will run until June 2025. It is funded by Business Finland’s Quantum Computing Campaign, which aims to create an ecosystem in Finland for solving business problems using quantum computing.
“At this stage, we are still conducting preliminary research and experiments. We also plan to use the quantum walk method. The preliminary results are already very promising,” says Kari Seppenen from VTT.
