Secure communications in the Quantum age

In an era of rising cyber threats, Quantum Communications has emerged as a crucial necessity, not just a luxury or science fiction

On 19 April, the Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, and Union Minister of State for Science and Space Jitendra Singh, took the wraps off the Rs 6,000-crore National Quantum Mission. The latter, which set goals to develop one of the most frontier technologies in the world right now, was a signal from the Centre to India’s industry, academia and public-sector stakeholders to take quantum computing, technologies and applications with increasing importance.

At the heart of this importance lies quantum communications — using quantum computing to ensure that encrypted, secure communications channels are maintained in terms of their sanctity.

WHY THE ALARMISM?

Picture this — today, communications are encrypted as per a 128-bit encrypted standard. The most sophisticated government encryption standards, used for India’s deepest, most sensitive information, are quite good. Speaking at industry body ASSOCHAM’s Quantum Technology Conclave in Delhi on 5 October, Dr Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, underlined that for any supercomputer available in the world today — the best encryption methods will take thousands of years to be broken.

Researchers at IIT Delhi have achieved a QKD data transfer over 380 km, using standard fibre optical cables with a “very low” quantum bit error rate.

But, once quantum computing is stabilised, an early-stage quantum computer with single or low-double-digit qubits will be able to crack such encryption in a matter of hours, or even minutes.

This, therefore, is not alarmism — it makes quantum computing a vital field to focus on.

WHAT WILL QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS OFFER?

India’s National Quantum Mission lays down key objectives — two of which include the development of 50-qubit to 1,000-qubit quantum computers, and the establishment of a 2,000-kilometre quantum communications network.

Put simply, a quantum communications network will use a technology called Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to encrypt a message using the principles of quantum theory. This, in even simpler terms, will give us a new technology that will help make our data transfers and communications safe from being breached by quantum computers as well.

This is presently manifesting in various ways. For one, terrestrial networks are being tested by various centre-affiliated bodies such as the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and academic institutions such as the IIT Madras, over spans of tens of kilometres. Work is also being done to test quantum networks over already-available fibre cables in Delhi while testing QKD over satellite communications is also being conducted at the moment.

In India, efforts are on to test quantum networks over already-available fibre cables in Delhi and QKD over satellite communications

For instance, on 6 October, IIT Delhi announced via a blog post that researchers at the institute could successfully trial a QKD data transfer over 380 kilometres, using standard fibre optical cables and achieving a “very low” quantum bit error rate or QBER.

In simpler terms, this is one of the first instances of establishing long-range quantum communications networks in India — with the QKD in question being the crucial piece to quantum encryption. But error rate, too, will eventually determine how many file and data transfers over a quantum network become successful — a high error rate, which is a prevalent issue in quantum computing today, will lead to failed data transfers.

C-DAC’s product showcase at the ASSOCHAM conclave also showcased similar attributes — speaking about acceptably low error rates in a QKD-based data transfer over a quantum communications network.

In a statement on the matter, Bhaskar Kanseri, lead researcher of the project said, “This realisation using state-of-the-art technology would not only help in reducing the need for trusted nodes for intercity or long-distance quantum key exchange, increasing the security of the cryptography scheme, but would also prove to be a crucial step towards the commercial production of long-distance secure practical QKD devices.”

All of these are just the first few steps towards establishing India’s own quantum communications network — which will be crucial going forward.

INDIA VS. THE WORLD

At a quantum technology conference in Moscow this July, Roscongress, a private, government-affiliated entity working on technologies in Russia, underlined the development of a 35-qubit quantum computer. This quantum computer is the first step for Russia to not only establish its quantum computing network but also its own quantum communications protocol.

India’s National Quantum Mission has laid down key objectives, including the development of 50-qubit to 1,000-qubit quantum computers.

China, India’s geopolitical neighbour, has also already conducted QKD data transfer tests in terrestrial and satellite networks, showcasing that work on establishing quantum communications has advanced across geographies. It is this that makes it imperative for India to expand its own quantum communications network, and at scale — for it is this scale that will enable us, at a central level, to upgrade the national communications network stack going forward.

WHERE DOES THE INDUSTRY STAND?

In an interview with a business newspaper, K Ananth Krishnan, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Consultancy Services, highlighted that business use cases are already developing in quantum technologies — and it is no longer just a research field.

Explaining some of the key areas of interest, Krishnan said, “In BFSI, portfolio optimisation, forecasting and wealth management in the capital markets are key use cases. We have good simulation techniques and algorithms for maximising returns on portfolios, and minimising and maximising risks as part of quantum applications.”

“Post-quantum cryptography is an area of interest. BFSI clients are talking to us about these applications to understand how much time they had before they were to act and improve their infrastructure. In manufacturing, aerospace and applications, such as material chemistry and material design, are being explored. Achieving quantum supremacy will help revolutionise basic materials research, which will be crucial for manufacturers, aerospace and battery makers,” he further added.

It is this that MoS Space, Singh, also highlighted at ASSOCHAM’s conclave, adding that the development of private sector interest in quantum technologies can take cues from the growth of India’s private space sector.

“India, in the space sector, is no longer looked upon as a follower — major developed economies are looking to partner alongside India for space technologies and initiatives, driven by the success of the likes of the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, the Aditya-L1 solar mission, and the upcoming Gaganyaan manned space mission, trials for which may begin as early as next month. All of this cannot be solely driven by the government, and public-private partnerships are key,” he said.

It is this that stakeholders across public and private entities need to cash in on, as the NQM’s final framework and implementation nears its official commencement in the coming months.

By Vernika Awal

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