+
DRDO & IIT Delhi Achieve 1km Quantum Secure Communication Test
Technology

DRDO & IIT Delhi Achieve 1km Quantum Secure Communication Test

India has marked a significant milestone in quantum technology with a successful demonstration of quantum entanglement-based secure communication, conducted by the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi. The trial, achieved over a free-space optical link on the IIT Delhi campus, demonstrated secure quantum communication over a distance of more than one kilometre. 
 
The experiment achieved a secure key rate of approximately 240 bits per second, with a quantum bit error rate of under 7%. This entanglement-assisted communication method represents a breakthrough for quantum cybersecurity applications such as long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), future quantum networks, and the envisioned quantum internet. The demonstration aligns with India's national goals of developing cutting-edge quantum technologies. 
 
The project, titled ‘Design and Development of Photonic Technologies for Free Space QKD’, is supported by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO. The demonstration was led by Prof Bhaskar Kanseri’s research team and witnessed by senior dignitaries, including the DRDO DG (MED, COS & CS), Director SAG, Director DFTM, Dean (R&D) IIT Delhi, Director (DIA-CoE), and scientists from DRDO labs. 
 
Quantum entanglement-based QKD offers key advantages over traditional prepare-and-measure techniques, significantly enhancing both security and resilience. Even when devices are compromised or imperfect, the security of the key remains intact due to the intrinsic properties of entanglement. Any unauthorised interception attempts disturb the quantum state, making detection possible. 
 
Quantum communication technology offers unbreakable encryption, making it a strategic asset for securing communications in critical areas such as defence, banking, telecommunications, and national security. Free-space QKD also removes the dependence on physical optical fibre networks, which can be cost-prohibitive or difficult to install in urban or rugged terrains. 
 
Previously, in 2022, DRDO and Prof Bhaskar’s team demonstrated India’s first intercity quantum communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj using underground dark fibre. In 2024, they further advanced this field by distributing quantum keys over a 100 km spool of telecom-grade fibre in another DRDO-backed initiative. 
These developments are part of DRDO’s DIA-CoE initiative, which has established 15 Centres of Excellence at leading academic institutions such as IITs, IISc, and top universities to drive innovation in advanced defence technologies.  
 

India has marked a significant milestone in quantum technology with a successful demonstration of quantum entanglement-based secure communication, conducted by the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi. The trial, achieved over a free-space optical link on the IIT Delhi campus, demonstrated secure quantum communication over a distance of more than one kilometre.  The experiment achieved a secure key rate of approximately 240 bits per second, with a quantum bit error rate of under 7%. This entanglement-assisted communication method represents a breakthrough for quantum cybersecurity applications such as long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), future quantum networks, and the envisioned quantum internet. The demonstration aligns with India's national goals of developing cutting-edge quantum technologies.  The project, titled ‘Design and Development of Photonic Technologies for Free Space QKD’, is supported by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO. The demonstration was led by Prof Bhaskar Kanseri’s research team and witnessed by senior dignitaries, including the DRDO DG (MED, COS & CS), Director SAG, Director DFTM, Dean (R&D) IIT Delhi, Director (DIA-CoE), and scientists from DRDO labs.  Quantum entanglement-based QKD offers key advantages over traditional prepare-and-measure techniques, significantly enhancing both security and resilience. Even when devices are compromised or imperfect, the security of the key remains intact due to the intrinsic properties of entanglement. Any unauthorised interception attempts disturb the quantum state, making detection possible.  Quantum communication technology offers unbreakable encryption, making it a strategic asset for securing communications in critical areas such as defence, banking, telecommunications, and national security. Free-space QKD also removes the dependence on physical optical fibre networks, which can be cost-prohibitive or difficult to install in urban or rugged terrains.  Previously, in 2022, DRDO and Prof Bhaskar’s team demonstrated India’s first intercity quantum communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj using underground dark fibre. In 2024, they further advanced this field by distributing quantum keys over a 100 km spool of telecom-grade fibre in another DRDO-backed initiative. These developments are part of DRDO’s DIA-CoE initiative, which has established 15 Centres of Excellence at leading academic institutions such as IITs, IISc, and top universities to drive innovation in advanced defence technologies.   

Next Story
Real Estate

No glass boxes!

India is moving away from the ‘glass box’ syndrome, all-glass façades that were widely used in commercial buildings in the last two decades but came at a significant environmental cost given the country’s predominantly hot and humid climate. Poor thermal performance, excessive heat gain and dependency on mechanical cooling systems made buildings with glass façades energy guzzlers and significantly increased their carbon footprint.That said, it’s important to be aware that “glass is not the enemy,” points out Heena Bhargava, Architect, Architecture Discipline. “How it ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Why do pavements fail?

India’s highways continue to expand at a healthy pace. But conversations on the surface quality of highways are growing louder because major deficiencies and black spots continue to be identified, and they are cause for concern.“Road surface roughness causes vehicle vibrations that, in turn, can affect the performance of drivers,” explains Dr V K Gahlot, Road Safety Auditor, Centre for Research and Sustainable Development (CfRSD). “Continuous exposure may induce fatigue, a contributory factor to road accidents. Road surface roughness also affects the vehicle operating cost...

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

APAC Logistics Rents Fall for First Time Since 2020

Logistics rents across the Asia-Pacific region declined 0.4% year-on-year in H1 2025, marking the first annual drop since 2020, according to Knight Frank’s Logistics Highlights H1 2025 report. Despite global trade tensions and cautious occupier sentiment, India emerged as a standout performer, driven by robust manufacturing momentum and supply chain recalibration.Regional Trends and DivergenceWhile rents largely remained stable across most markets, regional differences became more pronounced:Mainland China continued to see rental declines, though the pace of decline moderated to 12.8% YoY, s..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?