Ahmedabad-based India’s National Space Support and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) on Tuesday signed a pact with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup QNu Labs to develop domestic QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) satellite products. The outcome of the collaboration will help ensure that India is at the forefront of the future of global quantum communication networks, according to a report released by IN-SPACE.
With satellite QKD capability, India has the potential to become a world leader in creating a Quantum Secure Communication Network, it said after an MoU was signed in Bengaluru. QKD is an essential technology to ensure the security of sensitive information shared between various parties, said Prafulla K Jain, Director (Programme Management and Authorization), IN-SPACe. For a country like India, which is witnessing an expansion of the space sector, it is crucial to have a robust ecosystem for smooth operations without compromising any sensitive data, he noted.
The technology is a game-changer and can be used to ensure the secure exchange of sensitive information over long distances, said Sunil Gupta, CEO and co-founder of QNu Labs. He said the use of quantum technology will strengthen India’s scientific leadership and excellence in quantum secure communication and increase its autonomy in this strategic area. The partnership will help homegrown startup QNu Labs be the first of its kind in the world to demonstrate the capability of a QKD network covering both terrestrial and satellite media, said Dilip Singh, product director of QNU Labs. IN-SPACe functions as a one-stop, independent, nodal autonomous agency of the Department of Space (DOS) that supports, enables, approves and oversees various non-governmental entity (NGE) space activities.
