Reshaping Technology Trends in 2025: The Next-Generation Infrastructure Revolution Driven by Edge Computing and Quantum Communication
Editor
As of December 2025, the global technology industry is at a historic inflection point at the intersection of two key technology trends. The edge computing market has grown by 28.4% compared to the previous year, reaching a scale of $124.7 billion, while the commercialization of quantum communication technology is accelerating the fundamental restructuring of existing IT infrastructure. Notably, the transition to 5G and 6G networks, the shift of AI workloads to the edge, and the adoption of quantum encryption technology are rapidly changing companies’ technology investment priorities.
According to the latest report by market research firm Gartner, global edge computing spending in 2025 increased by 31% compared to the previous year, while the growth rate of traditional centralized cloud investments was only 12%. This change signifies a fundamental shift in thinking across companies’ digital strategies, beyond mere technology trends. Mark Riverson, a senior analyst at California-based technology analysis firm IDC, stated, “We are witnessing a historic shift where computing power is moving to the point of data generation,” and evaluated it as “the most significant infrastructure paradigm change since the early days of the internet.”
At the center of this change is the proactive technological innovation of Korean companies. Samsung Electronics (headquartered in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province) strengthened its position in the edge computing market by launching the next-generation edge AI chipset ‘Exynos 2500 Edge’ in the third quarter of 2025. This chipset reportedly improved power efficiency by 47% and enhanced AI inference performance by 3.2 times compared to its predecessors. SK Hynix (headquartered in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province) also expanded its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) product line dedicated to edge data centers, reporting a 34% increase in fourth-quarter sales compared to the same period last year. Notably, SK Hynix’s HBM3E product, optimized for edge AI workloads with a low-power design, is attracting significant attention from global cloud service providers.
Rapid Expansion of the Edge Computing Ecosystem
The rapid growth of the edge computing market cannot be explained solely by technological excellence. In reality, the practical challenges faced by companies are accelerating the adoption of these technologies. According to the latest research by global consulting firm McKinsey, 58% of the primary motivations for companies to adopt edge computing are to reduce data processing latency, 31% to reduce bandwidth costs, and 27% to enhance data security and privacy. This indicates that companies are choosing edge computing not merely for technological innovation but to create specific business value.
Leading U.S. cloud service providers are also actively responding to these market changes. Amazon Web Services (AWS), based in Seattle, Washington, launched a new service called ‘AWS Wavelength Edge’ in the first half of 2025, which is an innovative approach to directly deploying AWS computing and storage services within telecom operators’ 5G networks. Sarah Johnson, head of AWS’s edge services division, explained, “The demand for edge workloads from customers increased by 340% compared to 2024,” and noted “explosive demand particularly in autonomous driving, smart manufacturing, and real-time video analytics.” In fact, AWS’s edge-related revenue increased by 67% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, reaching $1.8 billion.
Competitor Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, also significantly enhanced its ‘Azure Stack Edge’ platform. Microsoft announced a next-generation edge hardware platform in the second quarter of 2025, improving AI inference performance by five times and reducing power consumption by 35% compared to existing platforms. Notably, Microsoft is focusing on developing hybrid solutions that combine edge computing and quantum communication technologies. The company announced plans to pilot launch an edge gateway product with built-in quantum encryption features in the second half of 2025.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA, based in Santa Clara, California, is establishing a unique position in the edge AI market. The company’s ‘Jetson AGX Orin’ series saw an 89% increase in shipments in 2025 compared to the previous year, with high adoption rates particularly in the autonomous driving and robotics sectors. NVIDIA’s edge computing division revenue reached $3.7 billion in the third quarter of 2025, accounting for 23% of total revenue. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently stated in an earnings announcement, “Edge AI is growing much faster than we anticipated,” and projected that “by 2026, edge-related revenue will account for 35% of the total.”
Alongside these major companies’ active investments, edge computing specialist startups are also showing remarkable achievements. Silicon Valley-based edge AI specialist company Edge Impulse raised $85 million in Series C funding in 2025, the largest amount for a startup in the edge AI field. The company provides a platform that allows developers to easily build and deploy AI models for edge devices, currently used by over 150,000 developers. Edge Impulse CEO Jan Jansen emphasized, “Our goal is the democratization of edge AI development,” and highlighted that “enabling anyone to deploy complex AI models on edge devices is key.”
Acceleration of Quantum Communication Technology Commercialization
Alongside edge computing, quantum communication technology has emerged as another game-changer in the technology industry in 2025. With China’s quantum communication network surpassing 2,000 km and the European Union deciding to invest 5 billion euros in building a quantum internet, quantum communication is no longer a distant future technology but a present reality. According to a report by market research firm Quantum Insights, the global quantum communication market size in 2025 reached $1.7 billion, growing by 156% compared to 2024.
One of the most notable companies in this field is New York-based IBM. In September 2025, IBM commercialized its ‘Quantum Network Hub’ service, which allows companies to use quantum encrypted communication through existing internet infrastructure. Dario Gil, head of IBM’s quantum computing division, stated, “Quantum communication is no longer a laboratory experiment but a real business solution,” and revealed that “47 companies are currently using our quantum network service.” IBM’s quantum-related revenue reached $420 million in the third quarter of 2025, a 234% increase compared to the same period last year.
In Korea, the development of quantum communication technology is also actively underway. The Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and KT jointly developed a quantum encryption communication system that began commercial service in the first half of 2025. This system provides real-time quantum key distribution (QKD) over a 300 km section between Seoul and Daejeon, serving government and financial institutions. Dr. Minsoo Kim, head of KT’s quantum technology research lab, announced, “Quantum communication technology is becoming a core infrastructure for national security and financial systems,” and plans to “establish a quantum communication network connecting major cities nationwide by 2026.”
Globally, China holds a dominant position in the quantum communication field. The ‘Jingjin Quantum Communication Network,’ led by the University of Science and Technology of China, completed a 2,100 km quantum communication backbone network by the end of 2025, connecting 32 cities. This network provides quantum encrypted communication services to government agencies, financial institutions, and major companies, with daily quantum key distribution exceeding one million. Pan Jianwei, director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Quantum Information Research Institute, projected, “China’s quantum communication network has already entered the commercialization stage,” and “will serve as a quantum communication hub connecting all of Asia by 2026.”
The European Union is also making significant investments in the quantum communication field. The ‘European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI)’ project, led by the EU, completed its first phase in the second half of 2025, laying the foundation for a quantum communication network connecting 27 member states. This project involves major European technology companies such as Siemens from Germany, Thales from France, and Quandel from the Netherlands. Antonio Accomazzo, director of quantum technology at the European Space Agency (ESA), stated, “The European quantum communication network is key to securing digital sovereignty,” and aims to “establish a complete European quantum internet by 2027.”
As the commercialization of quantum communication technology accelerates, the market for related components and equipment is also rapidly growing. Swiss quantum encryption specialist ID Quantique reported a 187% increase in revenue in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching $134 million. The company’s flagship product, the quantum key distribution system, is currently used by over 150 institutions worldwide, with particularly high demand from financial and government institutions. ID Quantique CEO Grégoire Ribordy projected, “The quantum communication market is maturing faster than expected,” and expects “revenue to exceed $300 million by 2026.”
Along with these technological advancements, the practical applications of quantum communication are also diversifying. Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Bank began operating a financial transaction system using quantum encrypted communication between Tokyo and Osaka in October 2025. This system processes an average of 500,000 transactions per day and is evaluated to have significantly improved security levels compared to existing systems. Hiroshi Tanaka, IT executive director at Mitsubishi UFJ, stated, “Quantum encryption is no longer a future technology but a key security infrastructure we currently use,” and plans to “gradually expand its application to other major financial services.”
As of December 2025, the convergence of edge computing and quantum communication technologies is becoming a core pillar of next-generation IT infrastructure. These technological changes are bringing about fundamental changes in business models beyond mere performance improvements. Companies are no longer solely reliant on centralized clouds, but are establishing new digital strategies that combine real-time processing at the edge with quantum-level security. This is expected to be a growth driver for the technology industry in the coming years, with related companies’ investments and innovations anticipated to accelerate further.
Market experts view 2026 as a turning point where edge computing and quantum communication will fully converge. Gartner’s senior analyst David Cleary warned, “The combination of edge and quantum technologies will become the standard for next-generation digital infrastructure,” and cautioned, “Companies that are not prepared for this risk falling behind in the competition.” Indeed, looking at major technology companies’ investment plans for 2026, budgets related to edge computing and quantum communication are expected to account for over 30% of total R&D investments, highlighting the importance of this field.
*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice or solicitation. Investment decisions should be made based on individual judgment and responsibility.*
