C-DOT, Synergy Quantum join hands to develop drone-based quantum communication technology

New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s quantum-secure communication capabilities, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited to jointly develop Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology for drone-based systems.

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C-DOT, the telecom R&D arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and Synergy Quantum, a deep-tech firm specializing in quantum technologies, will collaborate on building secure communication systems using the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding. The technology will be developed at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or higher, indicating readiness for real-world application.

The partnership is aligned with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and aims to strengthen indigenous capabilities in next-generation telecom technologies. It will focus on developing quantum communication systems optimized for deployment through drones, with potential applications in defence, emergency response, and secure government communications.

As part of the agreement, both organisations will jointly create research proposals for national and international grants, co-author scholarly publications and white papers, and organize knowledge-sharing platforms such as expert talks, short-term courses, symposia, and conferences.

Speaking at the MoU signing, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, said, “The convergence of public R&D and private innovation is essential to shaping a secure and self-reliant digital future for India. This collaboration with Synergy Quantum reflects our shared vision of accelerating indigenous capabilities in this critical domain.”

Jay Oberoi, Founder and CEO of Synergy Quantum India, said, “This partnership has the potential to position India as a global leader in drone-based quantum secure communications.”

The MoU was signed in the presence of senior officials from both organizations, including Dr Pankaj Dalela and Shikha Srivastava, Directors at C-DOT, and Ajay Singh (COO), Dr. Vipin Rathi, and AM GS Bedi from Synergy Quantum.

The collaboration is expected to lay the groundwork for a quantum-safe telecom infrastructure, revolutionizing secure data transmission in mission-critical sectors.

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