New Delhi: Indian researchers have successfully demonstrated secure quantum communication using quantum entanglement over a distance exceeding one kilometre via an optical link.
This real-world experiment, conducted by the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Delhi, highlights India’s growing expertise in quantum technology.
The team achieved a secure key rate of 240 bits per second with minimal error, proving that quantum communication can work alongside conventional systems in practical environments.
The Defence Ministry said that this development lays the foundation for real-time applications in quantum cybersecurity, such as long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), the formation of quantum networks, and the eventual creation of a quantum internet.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and IIT Delhi for this significant accomplishment, calling it a potential game-changer in future warfare and national security.
The project, titled “Design and Development of Photonic Technologies for Free Space QKD,” was approved by DRDO’s Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM). It was led by Prof. Bhaskar Kanseri’s team at IIT Delhi.
Quantum entanglement refers to a phenomenon where two particles become linked in such a way that any change in one instantly affects the other, even if they are far apart.
In quantum communication, this principle allows information to be shared securely by transmitting the state of particles rather than physical data.
In recent years, India has made notable progress in this field. In 2024, researchers distributed quantum keys via entanglement across a 100-km optical fibre. In 2022, the first intercity quantum link was established between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj using commercial underground fibre.
