C-DOT & PRL Achieve Significant Milestone:  In a first in the country, both the organisations demonstrate integration of CDOT’s indigenous Fiber based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system  with Free Space QKD system from  Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) leading to establishment of  an end to end quantum communication link involving both Fiber and Free space as transport medium.

The end to end quantum communication link with C-DOT’s Fibre-based QKD integrated with PRLs free space QKD was demonstrated to Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary  Department of Telecommunications, Government of India during 2nd International Quantum Communication Conclave held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The rapid progress in quantum computers and quantum algorithms has put the security of the existing classical techniques of data security at risk as huge computational power of quantum computers  can easily break the secrecy of the key used for encryption / decryption. The computational capacity of a quantum computer is expected to be million times faster compared to the most advanced classical computer available today. Although huge computing power is useful for solving many day-to-day issues and complex problems in various fields like financial, chemical, pharmaceutical, and automotive sectors, it will pose a threat to the security of the existing communication and data security infrastructure if any adversary gains access to quantum computers. 

This imminent threat can be addressed by another new emerging branch of Quantum Technologies viz. Quantum Communications. One of the techniques of Quantum Communications viz. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solves this problem and enables communication networks to ensure fool-proof security even in the presence of Quantum Computers. QKD will, thus, play a critical role in the country’s economic development and has widespread applications in strategic sectors like defence, government communications, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, financial services, data centres and telecommunication networks. QKD can be deployed through different mediums viz. optical fibre, free space as well as satellite to provide end to end security over the communication network.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), telecom Research and Development (R&D) arm of Department of Telecommunications, has indigenously developed rugged & field deployable QKD solutions. CDOT is the first organisation in the country to have received  Technology Approval from Telecom Engineering Center (TEC), a body under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India. Notably, C-DOT’s QKD link has been live between Sanchar Bhawan and NIC Headquarters (CGO Complex) since February last year.

Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is a 75 years old premier research institute under the Department of Space (DOS) and regarded as the cradle of space sciences in India. It has been working on utilizing space for quantum secure communication with support from the DOS and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). In the process of moving towards satellite-based quantum communication, it has already demonstrated free-space QKD with entangled photons and the effect of atmosphere on the secure key rate for 200 meters. Again, working with Space Application Centre (SAC), the institute was able to demonstrate end to end quantum encryption for 300 meters using indigenously developed entangled photon source. 

Few years back, C-DOT and PRL had signed a MoU with an objective to cooperate in the development of Quantum Communication Technologies. As part of the same, C-DOT and PRL planned to integrate fiber based QKD system of C-DOT with PRL’s free space QKD system. Now the same has been successfully completed providing an integrated solution to comprehensively address the needs of quantum secure communication networks, a landmark achievement in the niche area of Quantum Communication Technologies.

During the demonstration, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT said that it’s a significant achievement for both CDOT and PRL and  both the organisations will continue to work towards  further scaling  of the integrated  QKD system. 

 

C-DOT demonstrating integrated quantum communication link with C-DOT’s Fibre-based QKD integrated with PRLs free space QKD to Prof. Ajay Sood , PSA to Government of India and Dr  Neeraj Mittal, Secretary Department of Telecommunications

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