India's Quantum Shield: STL & C-DOT's MCF Breakthrough

STL, a leading provider of optical and digital solutions, in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), has successfully demonstrated India’s first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) transmission over a 100-kilometre, 4-core multi-core fibre (MCF) network. This landmark achievement marks a significant step toward building a quantum-secure, future-ready communication infrastructure in India.

The breakthrough was accomplished at the Advanced Optical Communications (AOC) Test Bed at IIT Madras, established by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and aligned with Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) standards. STL’s indigenously developed MCF cable—engineered for both aerial and underground use—served as a fully integrated end-to-end solution, encompassing cabling, connectivity, and installation.

In a pioneering approach, quantum signals were transmitted through one core, while high-speed classical data was simultaneously transmitted through the remaining three cores. This innovative dual-channel capability ensures the integrity of quantum communication while optimizing data transmission efficiency. It effectively addresses two major challenges in the field: form factor constraints and the exponential growth of data traffic.

This milestone positions STL and C-DOT as key innovators in secure digital infrastructure, accelerating India’s progress toward scalable and robust quantum communication networks.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.