OVHcloud adds Quandela Belenos quantum computer to platform

OVHcloud has added Quandela’s Belenos quantum computer to its quantum platform, making it the second quantum computer available through the cloud-based service.

Belenos uses photonic quantum technology and offers 12 qubits, according to the companies. It joins a platform that also includes 15 quantum emulators for users testing and learning different quantum computing models.

The addition expands OVHcloud’s Quantum-as-a-Service offering, which gives customers pay-as-you-go access to quantum systems. Billing for the Belenos quantum processing unit is charged by the second, with no commitment required.

OVHcloud launched the platform last autumn as part of a broader effort to widen access to quantum computing tools for businesses and researchers. The service is designed to let users experiment with algorithms and assess potential applications without running their own quantum hardware.

Quandela said Belenos could be used in areas including image sorting and generation, accelerated AI calculus and quantum machine learning. The companies also highlighted potential applications in electromagnetic simulation, structural mechanics, engine combustion, material simulation, meteorology and earth observation.

The launch adds another European-made system to a market where access to quantum hardware remains limited and is often concentrated among a small number of specialist providers. OVHcloud says it has supported the European quantum ecosystem since 2022 and now serves more than 1,000 users through its emulator range.

Those emulators include Perceval and MerLin, with pricing starting at 0.03 euros per hour. OVHcloud said the low-cost access is intended to help users become familiar with different approaches to quantum computing before moving to physical machines.

European focus

The companies presented the integration as part of a broader push to strengthen Europe’s position in quantum computing infrastructure. OVHcloud operates data centres across four continents and serves 1.6 million customers in more than 140 countries, while continuing to emphasise its European identity in cloud and data services.

For Quandela, the agreement places one of its machines in a broader cloud environment that customers can access without direct installation. The approach reflects a wider pattern in quantum computing, where providers increasingly make hardware available remotely rather than selling systems for on-site deployment.

Photonic quantum computing, the model used by Belenos, relies on particles of light rather than superconducting circuits or trapped ions. The field has drawn growing attention from researchers and start-ups because of its potential compatibility with existing optical technologies, though it remains at an early commercial stage.

Miroslaw Klaba, R&D Director at OVHcloud, said the addition marked progress for the company’s platform. “We are delighted to deliver on the promise of the Quantum Platform by adding a second reference quantum computer, Belenos from the French company Quandela. The quantum revolution accelerates and OVHcloud is taking its part as the European Cloud leader within the ecosystem,” he said.

Cloud access

The platform gives private organisations cloud-based access to quantum computers rather than requiring dedicated ownership. That model has become one of the main routes into commercial quantum computing because most businesses are still exploring possible uses and do not yet have a clear case for investing in their own systems.

Providers across the industry increasingly pair access to real hardware with simulators and emulators, allowing users to write and test code in environments that resemble quantum systems. OVHcloud’s platform follows that pattern by combining physical machines with software-based tools.

Quandela said integrating Belenos into the OVHcloud environment should widen access for technical teams working on algorithm development. “The integration of Belenos 12 qubits into the OVHcloud portfolio marks a decisive step for quantum in Europe. Accessible through the cloud, this photonic computer becomes a concrete tool for businesses. With OVHcloud we are offering data scientists and innovators alike the mean to develop their algorithms on a flexible and sovereign infrastructure,” said Niccolò Somaschi, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Quandela.