C-DOT Unveils 14 Indigenous Quantum Products to Strengthen Security of India’s Communication Networks

QKD is a method of secure communication that uses the principles of quantum mechanics — rather than mathematical complexity — to generate and share an encryption key between two parties. Security derives from the physics of quantum measurement, not from computational hardness assumptions, which is why QKD is considered resistant even to future quantum computers.

Key Details

• The foundational protocol, BB84, was proposed by Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard in 1984; it encodes key bits in the polarization states of single photons sent over a quantum channel
• Security rests on the quantum no-cloning theorem — an unknown quantum state cannot be copied without disturbing it — so any eavesdropping attempt introduces detectable errors
• C-DOT's Q-AKSHAY CD uses Coherent One Way (COW) and Differential Phase Shift (DPS) protocols over optical fibre; Q-AKSHAY MD uses the Measurement Device Independent (MDI) protocol, which removes vulnerabilities tied to the detector hardware itself
• Core components like the C-SPD (single-photon detector) and C-RD (wideband RF driver) are essential sub-modules for generating and detecting the quantum states used in QKD

PQC refers to classical (non-quantum) cryptographic algorithms designed to be secure against attacks by both classical and future large-scale quantum computers, which threaten to break current public-key systems like RSA and ECC via Shor's algorithm. Unlike QKD, PQC does not require special quantum hardware and can be deployed over existing networks as a software/firmware upgrade.

Key Details

• The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalised its first three PQC standards on 13 August 2024: FIPS 203 (ML-KEM, derived from CRYSTALS-Kyber, for key encapsulation), FIPS 204 (ML-DSA, derived from CRYSTALS-Dilithium, for digital signatures), and FIPS 205 (SLH-DSA, derived from SPHINCS+, a hash-based signature scheme); a fourth (FALCON, as FIPS 206) is in progress
• C-DOT's PQC encryptor line follows a graded-throughput model: Q-SETU (Layer 3, up to 80 Mbps) for smaller networks, Q-MAHASETU (Layer 2/3, up to 40 Gbps) for commercial-grade backbone links, Q-AMOGH (Layer 1 optical, up to 200 Gbps) for high-capacity optical networks, and defence-grade Q-VIKRAM and Q-PARAKRAM (Layer 2/3, up to 1 Gbps, the latter also using proprietary algorithms alongside NIST PQC)
• End-user and access-layer products (Q-DARSHAN video IP phone, Q-VACHAN in-line node, Q-RAQSHAK enterprise protection, Q-VAAYU wireless point-to-point, Q-VAJRA1000 GPON/wireless access node) extend PQC protection down to the edge of the network

The National Quantum Mission is the Union government's umbrella programme to build indigenous capability across quantum computing, communication, sensing and materials, and to translate laboratory research into deployable technology — the mission under which C-DOT's quantum communication work is organised.

Communication network security is classified as part of India's critical information infrastructure under national cybersecurity frameworks, since compromised telecom, defence and satellite links can be exploited by hostile state and non-state actors.

Key Details

• C-DOT is the DoT's designated R&D body responsible for indigenous telecom technology, established in 1984, and has previously delivered 4G/5G core network stacks and lawful-interception systems for Indian telecom operators
• Indigenous quantum-safe hardware reduces reliance on foreign vendors for securing defence, satellite and other critical national infrastructure, addressing a supply-chain vulnerability flagged in India's telecom security policy discourse