European telecommunications operator Telefónica and superconducting quantum hardware provider IQM Quantum Computers have partnered to deploy the first quantum computer in the Community of Madrid. Under the initiative, an on-premises IQM Spark quantum processing system will be installed at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) before the end of 2026.
The system marks the third IQM quantum processor deployed in Spain via Telefónica, expanding upon the two systems previously delivered to the Galician Supercomputing Centre (CESGA). Designed for education, academic research, and algorithm benchmarking, the Madrid deployment provides regional universities, hospitals, research institutions, and technology startups with direct, local access to physical quantum hardware.
| [ Telefónica / IQM Madrid Quantum Deployment Overview ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Deployment Attribute | Technical & Operational Scope | Strategic Focus & Regional Objective |
| • Quantum Hardware | • IQM Spark (5-qubit superconducting QPU) | • All-in-one system for algorithm testing, workforce training, and early-stage use-case development. |
| • Installation Site | • Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) | • First physical quantum computer hosted within the Community of Madrid research ecosystem. |
| • Integration Partner | • Telefónica España (B2B Division) | • Coordinates hardware delivery alongside post-quantum cryptography (PQC) telecom network security. |
| • National Footprint | • 3 Total IQM QPUs in Spain | • Joins the two operational IQM systems deployed at CESGA in Galicia. |
Expanding On-Premises QPU Infrastructure and Post-Quantum Security
The on-premises deployment model provides local researchers with full infrastructure control, eliminating latency and data sovereignty constraints associated with third-party remote cloud environments. The UPM facility will serve as a central research hub for exploring quantum algorithms in material science, biomedical modeling, and logistics optimization.
Alongside the hardware installation, Telefónica is expanding its quantum technology portfolio across Spain, including the deployment of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards to secure inter-data-center communications across healthcare, defense, and public administration sectors.
Review the press release on the IQM Newsroom here and view the official announcement on IQM’s LinkedIn update here.
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