The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi) have successfully demonstrated free-space quantum secure communication over a one-kilometre distance using quantum entanglement.
The experiment, carried out by the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi, involved secure quantum key exchange via an optical link on campus. The demonstration achieved a secure key rate of approximately 240 bits per second, maintaining a quantum bit error rate (QBER) below 7 per cent.
The Union Minister of Defence lauded the development, highlighting India’s entry into a new era of unbreakable quantum communication. The technology promises strong dual-use applications in national security, defence, finance, and telecommunications by enabling fundamentally unhackable encryption.
This milestone builds upon earlier achievements in the field, including India’s first intercity quantum link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj in 2022 and the successful quantum key distribution across 100 km of telecom-grade optical fibre in 2024.
Further, the ongoing research is part of DRDO’s broader quantum communication programme being implemented through its 15 DIA-CoEs established across leading academic institutions including IITs, IISc, and major universities.
