NOV 05: A startup supported under the National Quantum Mission (NQM) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has achieved a major technological breakthrough by successfully demonstrating India’s first extensive Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network spanning over 500 kilometers.
The Bengaluru-based quantum technology startup, QNu Labs Pvt. Ltd., deployed this network over existing optical fiber infrastructure, marking a significant milestone in India’s quantum-secure communication capabilities. The achievement was formally announced during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, in the presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Chairman, Mission Governing Board of NQM, and Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST.
The demonstration aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to position India as a global leader in emerging technologies and secure digital infrastructure. The project was funded through the I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation, a Technology Innovation Hub under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS) at IISER Pune.
The Indian Army’s Southern Command provided crucial support, with its Signals Corps engineering the test-bed fiber network in the Rajasthan Sector, enabling end-to-end quantum key exchange through multiple trusted nodes across more than 500 km.
This achievement strengthens India’s position in the second quantum revolution, showcasing the Synergy of Technology, Research, Industry, and Defence Ecosystem (STRIDE). QNu Labs also presented its Quantum Random Number Generator System in Package (QSIP) at ESTIC 2025, reinforcing India’s strides toward a quantum-secure digital future.
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