D-Wave Quantum lifts after AT&T expands network computing deal
Peer quantum stocks also gained ground, with Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion climbing 7% and 4% respectively, despite broader year-to-date declines across the sector.
D-Wave Quantum shares rose more than 4% following the announcement of an expanded agreement with AT&T to utilise its quantum technology across network operations. The deal builds on previous pilot projects between the two companies and aims to optimise telecom workloads.
The move triggered a broader rally in the quantum computing sector. Peer listed entities Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion saw share price increases of more than 7% and 4% respectively, as investors reacted to the development.
This recent volatility occurs against a backdrop of significant year-to-date declines for the sector. Shares of D-Wave, Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion have all fallen more than 35% over the past year, highlighting the speculative nature of the technology despite recent government support initiatives.
Market sentiment had previously shifted in May when the US Department of Commerce signed letters of intent to provide funding for quantum research and development projects. The government initiative involves distributing more than $2 billion in federal incentives to nine quantum-related companies in exchange for a minority equity stake.
The federal programme also encompassed IBM, which announced the launch of Anderson, a new standalone company to create a quantum chip foundry in Albany, New York. The initiative underscores the growing strategic importance of quantum infrastructure, although the long-term commercial impact on participating firms remains to be seen.
The specific financial terms or duration of the expanded AT&T and D-Wave agreement were not disclosed. Similarly, the exact nature of the workload optimisation achieved through the technology was not detailed in the source material.
