IBM Unveils “Nighthawk” Quantum Processor; Promises Fault‑Tolerant Quantum by End of Decade
New York/Kampala
IBM Wednesday 12th November 2025 announced the release of its most advanced quantum processor yet — “Nighthawk” — and laid out a roadmap to achieve fault‑tolerant quantum computing by 2029, with quantum advantage (the point where a quantum computer outperforms classical machines) expected by end‑2026.
The Nighthawk processor features 120 qubits linked by 218 tunable couplers and offers ~30 % greater circuit complexity than its predecessor, enabling computation of problems requiring up to 5,000 two‑qubit gates.
IBM says it will shift to 300mm wafer fabrication to boost quantum‑chip scaling, and has achieved a ten‑times speedup in error‑correction decoding — major steps toward reliable quantum machines.
For businesses, researchers and governments, the implications are significant: quantum computing promises breakthroughs in materials science, cryptography, drug discovery and more. But IBM cautions that practical widespread deployment is still years away.
Analysts say that with competition from Google, Microsoft, and Chinese firms ramping up quantum initiatives too, the next 12‑24 months are likely to see an acceleration in the quantum arms race.
Context & takeaway:
For readers of The Urban Gazette interested in tech and business: IBM’s announcement represents a milestone in the quantum era. While Kampala‑based startups and investors may not see immediate impact, the ripple effects (such as quantum‑secure communications, high‑performance computing services) will eventually reach emerging markets. It’s a signal that quantum tech is moving from labs to pre‑commercial phase.
