Sun Jun 22 14:05:24 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
An IIT-Delhi professor, Bhaskar Kanseri, believes India could achieve satellite-based quantum communication within five years, leveraging the National Quantum Mission. This requires significant investment, multidisciplinary expertise, and the involvement of quantum startups. While China has already demonstrated this technology, India has made progress in free-space and fiber-optic quantum key distribution (QKD). Satellite QKD presents challenges due to atmospheric disturbances, but offers a cost-effective solution for long-distance secure communication. The professor emphasizes the need for indigenous development of equipment and components to foster this technological advancement.
**News Article:**
**India on Track for Quantum Communication Satellites Within Five Years, Says IIT-Delhi Professor**
**NEW DELHI, June 22, 2025** – India is poised to achieve a major technological milestone, potentially launching satellite-based quantum communication within the next half-decade. Professor Bhaskar Kanseri of IIT-Delhi, whose team recently achieved a landmark one-kilometer free-space quantum key distribution (QKD), shared his optimistic outlook in an exclusive interview.
QKD, a highly secure method of encryption using the principles of quantum mechanics, promises unbreakable communication channels. While currently limited by distance and atmospheric interference in free-space applications, Professor Kanseri believes that satellite implementation can overcome these challenges.
“I strongly believe that India… will achieve it in the next half-a-decade or so, as under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), a strong focus is to develop satellite-based long distance quantum communication,” Professor Kanseri said.
However, achieving this ambitious goal requires substantial investment, a collaborative effort involving multidisciplinary experts, and the active participation of quantum startups. “Satellite based quantum communication would be one of the biggest projects and require not only adequate funds but also a large, dedicated team of multidisciplinary skilled experts,” Prof. Kanseri explained.
While China has been developing this technology for over two decades and has already demonstrated satellite QKD, India has been making significant strides in recent years. The Space Applications Centre (SAC) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) jointly demonstrated real-time QKD over a 300-meter atmospheric channel in 2022, marking a crucial step towards satellite-based communication.
Professor Kanseri stressed the importance of fostering a robust domestic quantum technology ecosystem. “Quantum startups, mentored by researchers working in quantum technologies, if funded adequately, can contribute immensely in translation of technologies from lab to market, and in prototyping quantum technologies in a focussed and faster manner. In addition, indigenous development of needed equipment and components is also required.”
If successful, India’s foray into satellite-based quantum communication will transform secure data transmission, bolstering national security and unlocking new possibilities in various sectors.
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