TIM announced that it is the first telecommunications operator in Europe to implement quantum computing algorithms in planning its next generation mobile networks.
The computational potential of quantum computers makes it possible to tackle problems that are beyond the reach of traditional computers due to their complexity.
TIM has optimised planning of radio cells, framing the problem within a QUBO (quadratic unconstrained binary optimisation) algorithmic model, carried out on D-Wave's 2000Q quantum computer. D-Wave is a world leader in the production of commercial quantum computing hardware, software and services.
The QUBO algorithm has been used to plan 4.5G and 5G network parameters, performing 10 times faster than traditional optimisation methods, claims the Operator. Since computing speed is expected to improve further as quantum computer technology evolves, the ability to configure the network in real time is a key aspect in providing customers with better mobile service.
The application of the QUBO algorithm to the planning of cell IDs – which allow smartphones to distinguish each radio cell from the others – provides TIM customers with greater VoLTE (Voice over LTE) service quality, improving its steadiness when on the move between the areas covered by different cells, said the Operator.
