The Centre for Improvement of Telematics (C-DOT), in collaboration with Sterlite Applied sciences Restricted (STL), has efficiently performed India’s first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) transmission over a 4-core Multi-Core Fibre (MCF), marking a significant milestone within the nation’s journey in direction of quantum-secured communication networks.
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What’s Multi-Core Fibre?
Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) expertise gives a strong answer by enabling information transmission throughout a number of cores inside a single fibre, considerably decreasing bodily house necessities and infrastructure prices. In accordance with the Ministry of Communications, within the context of QKD — which generally requires a devoted darkish fibre for the quantum channel, MCF permits the bodily separation of quantum and classical indicators into distinct cores inside a single fibre.
This enables for the simultaneous transmission of QKD and high-capacity information visitors on a single fibre with out compromising quantum sign integrity thereby saving fibre price, the Ministry introduced on Thursday, April 19, 2025.
Simultaneous QKD and Information Transmission
On this demonstration, quantum indicators for QKD had been transmitted by way of one core, whereas the remaining three cores in the identical fibre carried high-speed person information. A steady QKD hyperlink was established over a distance exceeding 100 km, validating the robustness and stability of quantum communication even amidst high-capacity classical information visitors, based on C-DOT.
C-DOT has efficiently developed and deployed industry-grade Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) methods. Notably, C-DOT’s QKD methods have obtained Know-how Approval from the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), a physique below the DoT.
India’s Quantum Future
“This initiative is a key milestone for India’s telecom ecosystem. This achievement clearly establishes the feasibility of built-in quantum-classical networks over next-generation optical fibres saving prices for QKD deployments drastically,” mentioned Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT.
Rahul Puri, CEO of Optical Networking Enterprise, STL mentioned: “This breakthrough collaboration with C-DOT underscores India’s rising prowess in pioneering next-gen digital infrastructure.”
“By efficiently integrating QKD with our indigenously developed MCF, now we have demonstrated how cutting-edge optical improvements can revolutionise safe communication. We’re dedicated to advancing India’s quantum communication ambitions whereas driving international optical management,” he mentioned, noting that this milestone is a testomony to the ability of public-private partnerships in constructing a digitally sovereign and safe nation.
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C-DOT and STL
C-DOT is the R&D arm of the Division of Telecommunications (DoT). STL, an optical networking options firm, has just lately developed the MCF utilizing House Division Multiplexing, enabling ultra-high capability information transmission throughout the similar fibre diameter.
Each organisations reaffirmed their dedication to advancing India’s capabilities in quantum communication and next-generation optical applied sciences.
