India successfully demonstrates its first free-space quantum-secure communication link for over 5.5 km | India News
NEW DELHI: Indian deep-tech startup QNu Labs, in collaboration with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) and IIT Gandhinagar, has successfully demonstrated India’s first free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) link for over 5.56 km.A free-space QKD link is an ultra-secure way to share secret digital passwords using particles of light travelling through open air or space instead of a physical fibre-optic cable. It uses quantum mechanics principles, and any attempt by an outsider to intercept or measure the photons changes their state; therefore, it is the most secure form of sending data. Traditional QKD is limited by signal loss inside fibre-optic cables, whereas free-space links allow communication across open terrain, water or obstacles where laying cables is difficult. Free-space optics form the foundational bridge for transmitting keys between Earth and orbiting satellites and create the backbone for a global, quantum-secure internet network.“The field trial, conducted on the night of Sept 27–28, established a secure quantum communication channel between BISAG-N and IIT-G,” the IT and electronics ministry said in a statement on Saturday.Using QNu Labs’ pointing, acquisition and tracking system, the trial achieved a stable quantum bit error rate below 5% and generated secure keys at a rate of 230–260 bps. These keys were integrated with BISAG-N’s post-quantum cryptography-enabled Vedic Kavach platform, enabling successful end-to-end encryption and decryption of test messages.Vinay Thakur, director general, BISAG-N, said the integration of Vedic Kavach with QNu Labs’ QKD technology marks a significant step towards practical quantum-resilient communication systems. Sunil Gupta, co-founder and CEO, QNu Labs, emphasised that the successful 5.56 km demonstration paves the way for longer-distance quantum-secure networks and satellite-based quantum communication.
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Cmde Manish Tripathi (Retd.), In-charge, ISTF, IIT Gandhinagar, said the demonstration provides a valuable field environment for advancing practical quantum communication technologies and showcases how academia, indigenous technology and real-world experimentation can be integrated to meet emerging secure communication requirements. The trial provides a foundation for advancing India’s capabilities in secure communication infrastructure, strengthening resilience against emerging quantum-era security threats.
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