India’s C-DAC Demonstrates Mobile Quantum Communication Usin…
Analytics India Magazine (Sanjana Gupta)
India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Pune has demonstrated a mobile quantum communication system using a drone-enabled platform, marking a step towards infrastructure-independent quantum networks.
The demonstration involved mobility-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and a post-quantum-secure drone-communication solution, CDAC announced in a LinkedIn post.
QKD involves securely sharing encryption keys between two parties over quantum channels.
The trial was conducted at C-DAC Pune as part of India’s National Quantum Mission. The project tested how quantum-secured communication performs outside fixed laboratory conditions and under real-world mobility.
C-DAC demonstrated a B92 QKD system on a mobile platform using a 50-metre Free-Space Optical (FSO) link with GPS-based precision time synchronisation. Quantum data post-processing was performed via a drone-based RF link. The system recorded a Quantum Bit Error Rate of about 5% and a secure key rate of around 2 kbps during the field trial.
The project also unveiled ‘Drone Quantum Kavach’, a post-quantum secure communication solution designed for unmanned aerial systems. According to the organisation, the work supports India’s goal of building indigenous and resilient quantum communication capabilities by securing live video streaming from drone to ground station, by protecting each frame with strong encryption.
“CDACINDIA Pune has marked a significant leap in India’s quantum journey by successfully demonstrating a B92 Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system on a mobile platform,” the organisation said in the post.
Anindita Banerjee, project manager for quantum technologies at CDAC Pune, said the work addressed both mobility and security challenges. “We have demonstrated (1) mobility-based Quantum communication and (2) Drone Quantum Kavach – drone-based quantum secure communication using PQC with industry collaborator Sagar Defence Engineering,” she said in a LinkedIn post.
C-DAC said the results highlighted reliable operation outside controlled environments and supported the case for mobile and ad-hoc quantum networks.
C-DAC intends to bridge the gap between laboratory research and operational use cases. Banerjee described the prototype as a technology readiness level (TRL) 4 to 5 system. The scale measures a technology’s maturity from basic research to full operational deployment.
The organisation said mobile, infrastructure-independent quantum communication could help secure critical data in demanding environments, including drone operations. Further testing and development are expected as India expands its ̉quantum research and deployment under the National Quantum Mission.
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