The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D institution under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited. The collaboration aims to pioneer drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems, pushing the envelope of quantum-secure communication technologies.
The MoU aims to formalize cooperation between C-DOT and Synergy Quantum in the development of Drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems, leveraging the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding, at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above.
C-DOT and Synergy Quantum will jointly pursue research and development initiatives tailored for drone-based quantum communication systems, with a shared vision of fortifying India’s technological sovereignty under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” mission.
The alliance is expected to contribute significantly to the indigenous innovation landscape, particularly in emerging and critical areas of secure telecom infrastructure.
Beyond technological development, the MoU encompasses a broader collaborative framework, including the co-creation of national and international research proposals, and dissemination of findings through academic publications, white papers, and thought leadership platforms.
The collaboration will also foster a knowledge-sharing ecosystem through expert talks, specialized training modules, and organization of conferences and symposia focused on quantum and telecom innovation.
This agreement reflects a milestone in India’s roadmap to become a global hub for next-generation, secure communication technologies, reinforcing both scientific advancement and national security imperatives.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, remarked, ‘The convergence of public R&D and private innovation is essential to shaping a secure and self-reliant digital future for India. Quantum technologies hold immense promise for next-generation secure communications, and this collaboration with Synergy Quantum reflects our shared vision of accelerating indigenous capabilities in this critical domain. By combining our research depth with industry agility, we aim to jointly develop solutions that not only address national priorities but also contribute to India’s emergence as a global player in quantum innovation.’
Jay Oberoi, Founder & CEO of Synergy Quantum India, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to work with C-DOT, noting that ‘this partnership has the potential to position India as a global leader in drone-based quantum secure communications.’
The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO C-DOT, Dr. Pankaj Dalela and Shikha Srivastava, Directors of C-DOT along with Jai Oberoi (CEO), Ajay Singh (COO), Dr. Vipin Rathi, and AM G S Bedi from Synergy Quantum and other senior officials of C-DOT. This partnership is expected to lay the foundation for next-generation quantum-safe telecom infrastructure, revolutionizing secure data transmission for applications in defence, emergency response, critical infrastructure, and secure government communication.
