The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on March 22, 2021, that it had successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 meters, the first such demonstration in the country. The experiment was conducted at the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, between two line-of-sight buildings on campus.
According to the ISRO announcement, the demonstration included live videoconferencing using quantum-key-encrypted signals. Indigenous key technologies were developed for the demonstration, including a NAVIC receiver for time synchronization and gimbal mechanism systems for optical alignment.
ISRO described the experiment as “a major milestone achievement for unconditionally secured satellite data communication using quantum technologies” and a breakthrough toward the agency’s goal of demonstrating Satellite Based Quantum Communication between two Indian ground stations.