India has achieved a major milestone in advanced communication technology by successfully demonstrating a 1,000-kilometre quantum communication network built entirely with indigenous systems. The breakthrough has been developed under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), marking a significant leap in secure data transmission capabilities.
The system, created with technology from the Bengaluru-based startup QNu Labs, is among the longest Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks demonstrated globally. What makes the achievement even more notable is the speed of progress—India has accomplished this feat in under two years, far ahead of the original eight-year plan that aimed for a 2,000-kilometre network.
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Officials from the Department of Science and Technology have called it a “landmark advancement,” highlighting that it positions India strongly in the global race for quantum-secure communications. The network is designed to enhance secure communication for critical sectors such as defence, banking, and telecommunications, where data protection is crucial.
One of the key features of the technology is its ability to function in challenging environments, including underground and underwater communication systems. This makes it highly versatile for both civilian and strategic use cases. Free-space QKD technology also reduces dependency on laying optical fibre, lowering infrastructure costs and improving deployment flexibility.
The success of this demonstration comes shortly after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) showcased quantum entanglement-based secure communication over a distance of more than one kilometre in real-world conditions, further proving the practical potential of quantum technologies.
Under the National Quantum Mission, launched in 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore, India is actively building a strong ecosystem for quantum research and innovation. So far, the initiative has supported 17 startups working on areas such as quantum sensing, atomic memory, and precision systems.
With this achievement, India moves closer to building a robust, quantum-safe communication infrastructure for the future.
