SK Telecom and IonQ strengthened their strategic partnership during a meeting at Seoul’s T-Tower on Wednesday, following their February deal where the Korean telecom giant agreed to exchange its stake in ID Quantique for IonQ shares worth an estimated 330 billion won ($228.4 million).
The meeting, attended by IonQ Chairman Peter Chapman and SK Telecom CEO Yoo Young-sang, focused on advancing quantum networking and security capabilities. Both companies reaffirmed plans to collaborate on quantum technologies that could enhance SK Telecom’s existing AI infrastructure.
Once completed, the February deal will give SK Telecom approximately 3% ownership in IonQ while allowing the US quantum computing leader to acquire a controlling stake in ID Quantique, the Swiss quantum cryptography firm previously owned by SK Telecom. Despite the ownership change, both firms confirmed they will maintain joint development efforts with IDQ.
“This strategic transaction furthers IonQ’s role as a global leader in next generation secure communications,” Chapman stated previously about the partnership. For SK Telecom, the alliance represents a significant expansion beyond its current quantum security business.
The collaboration aims to integrate IonQ’s trapped ion quantum computing technology, known for high stability and precision, with SK Telecom’s AI capabilities including its personal AI agents and data centers. This could potentially deliver substantial performance improvements in computational power while reducing energy consumption.
IonQ has been expanding its presence in South Korea through various strategic partnerships, including recent agreements with Hyundai Motor Group and Busan Metropolitan Government.
