IonQ and Florida LambdaRail Launch First Statewide Quantum-Safe Network Initiative in United States

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 27, 2026--

IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum platform company, and Florida LambdaRail (FLR), Florida’s existing statewide research and education fiber optic network, announced an agreement to support delivering on FLR's vision for a quantum-safe network spanning Florida. Together with Florida Quantum and local colleges and universities, the groups’ first step will seek to create a nearly 100 mile quantum corridor from Palm Beach County to Miami-Dade connecting three research and education institutions.

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“Creating a statewide quantum network in Florida will mark another major milestone in the deployment of IonQ’s global quantum platform,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. “IonQ's quantum-secure communications and advanced networking capabilities strengthen innovation ecosystems, improve resiliency, and lay the foundation for future public and private sector applications.”

The Master Service Agreement (MSA), announced at the 2026 eMerge Americas Conference + Expo, represents one of the most advanced efforts in the United States to transition critical fiber infrastructure toward quantum-secure communications. It builds on a series of collaborations across public and private sectors, aimed at accelerating the state’s quantum infrastructure and investment ecosystem.

The intended first phase will establish a three-node corridor linking select area colleges over the existing Florida LambdaRail fiber network. The system will use IonQ’s quantum key distribution (QKD) technology, enabling detection of any interception attempt and significantly strengthening protection against future cyber threats.

Quantum computing is expected to challenge many of today’s widely used encryption standards. As a result, governments and institutions have begun preparing for scenarios in which encrypted data collected today could be decrypted in the future. Similar efforts, in Switzerland and Romania, to this Florida initiative, are addressing that risk by introducing quantum networking, which shifts part of the security model from mathematical complexity to physics-based protection.

“Florida LambdaRail's collaboration with IonQ in this innovative quantum initiative will enable partner universities, researchers, and students to move quantum from the lab setting to real-world deployment,” said Jason Ball, chair of the Florida LambdaRail Board of Directors and associate provost and chief information officer at Florida Atlantic University. "We're confident that this public and private project will be a catalyst to accelerate scalable quantum-secure connectivity across the state.”

Florida LambdaRail, a nonprofit network connecting universities, research institutions, and public sector entities across the state through dedicated fiber infrastructure, will serve as the backbone for the deployment. Its existing footprint enables the initiative to move directly into real-world implementation rather than remaining in a laboratory setting.

Matt Cimaglia, Managing Partner of Quantum Coast Capital and a founding member of Florida Quantum, which has been advancing initiatives across the state, said:

“This effort reflects a broader shift in how infrastructure is being designed. By aligning networks, institutions, and investment, Florida is laying the groundwork for a quantum ecosystem that has the potential to drive innovation, attract talent, and support new opportunities across the state.”

Following completion of the initial corridor, the initiative is expected to expand across the Florida LambdaRail network, connecting additional institutions statewide, subject to future funding and stakeholder participation.

About Florida LambdaRail

Florida LambdaRail, LLC (FLR) is Florida's independent not-for-profit research and education network. FLR's 1,540-mile dark fiber network is owned and operated on behalf of its 13 university equity partners (10 public and 3 private) and 58 affiliates representing universities, colleges, k-12 schools, health care, research facilities, local governments, social services, and the arts.

FLR is dedicated to producing knowledge and prosperity within the state of Florida through education and research activities that drive our members' 21st century economy initiatives. Utilizing next generation network technologies, protocols and services, FLR facilitates collaboration and academic, scientific, educational, and clinical application development through high-speed communications. FLR brings together people, resources, and information; enables resource aggregation and sharing over large distances; and fosters innovation and discovery.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA,andAstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

IonQ Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding IonQ’s efforts to develop next generation quantum technologies, including without limitation, quantum networking and security technologies, and IonQ’s business efforts to sell quantum technologies. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “step,” “deliver,” “build,” “intend,” “will,” “transition,” “toward,” “accelerate,” “expect,” “expand” and other similar expressions. These statements are only predictions based on our expectations and projections about future events as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove incorrect, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, among others, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement we make. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

(Left to Right: Jason Ball, Florida LambdaRail; Bobby Grillo, Florida LambdaRail; Matt Cimaglia, Florida Quantum; Scott Millard, IonQ; Adam Hasner, Florida Atlantic University; Jon Ellis, Florida LambdaRail)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's foreign minister continued his shuttle diplomacy, landing in St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after a weekend in Pakistan and Oman. Tehran also pitched a new proposal to end the war with the U.S. and Israel.

But the U.S delegation canceled its trip to Pakistan, raising fears a deal to end the war and open the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains elusive.

Here is what to know.

Iran's latest proposal would put off negotiations on its nuclear program to a future date.

Instead, the deal would only see Tehran end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington lifting its blockade on Iranian ports and a long-term or permanent truce, according to two regional officials with knowledge of the proposal who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.

That offer will likely be rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump. For one, it doesn't address the core issue he cited when he began bombing on Feb. 28: finding a way to ensure that Iran cannot build an atomic weapon. It also appears to be silent on other major questions, like Iran's missile program and its support of proxies in the region.

This weekend, Trump held back sending envoys to Pakistan, which has been playing a crucial mediating role. By saying the Iranians could call Washington with any proposal, Trump appears to be signaling he's content to try to continue to squeeze Iran via a blockade.

The U.S. blockade both squeezes Iran's oil sales — a key source of hard currency for its theocracy — and threatens to force Tehran to eventually shut down its production if it can't get its crude to market. Already, Iran has faced troubles at home over its economy, and it could worsen as time goes on.

The global economy also is suffering: With few ships able to cross the strait, through which about 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes, oil and gasoline prices are skyrocketing and jet fuel, cooking gas and other energy products are starting to become scarce in parts of the world.

The closure has particularly put pressure on Trump's Gulf allies, which also use the waterway to export their oil and gas.

The current truce began April 8 after multiple deadlines posed by Trump that threatened Iran’s very “civilization” at one point. A separate ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon also has taken effect.

Trump has now extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely after whipsawing between various timelines for the conflict.

But negotiations for ending the war have stalled.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance took part in an earlier round of talks days after the truce began — the highest-level ones between America and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They ended without agreement.

Pakistan is trying to get the two sides back to the table in Islamabad. But this weekend it took down all the checkpoints and security it had in place in anticipation of negotiations. That signals there’s no immediate hope of talks resuming.

While negotiations appear at a stalemate, the U.S. military presence in the Middle East continues to grow. As of Monday, the U.S. Navy had three aircraft carrier groups in the region: the USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS George H.W. Bush.

Those carriers include some 15,000 sailors and Marines, as well as over 200 aircraft and additional ships. An amphibious assault group led by the USS Tripoli is also in the Mideast, with its own sailors, Marines and aircraft.

That comes on top of the warplanes, refuelers and other troop deployments to the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Oman, Pakistan and Russia in recent days. Pakistan has been a key mediator in this war, and Oman has long has been a key interlocutor between the U.S. and Iran.

But Russia broadly has stayed out of the latest conflict. Moscow has been floated as a possibility to take in Iran's highly enriched uranium — removal of which Trump has insisted on. That uranium could be used to build a bomb, should Iran choose to pursue one — though Tehran insists its program is only for civilian purposes.

Russia has signaled it is willing to assist, though Tehran maintains it will not give up its stockpile.

All of Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains in the country, likely entombed at enrichment sites bombed by the U.S. during a 12-day war last June.

Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.

A cargo ship sails in the Persian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo)

An army soldier, left, walks as police officer drives motorcycle on an empty road ahead of second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

A soldier stands guard on a bridge ahead of second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/M.A. Sheikh)

Workers walk past billboards near the Serena Hotel ahead of the second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)