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India has sent quantum encryption keys across 5.56 km of open air without fibre‑optic cables, using quantum key distribution (QKD) to share a secret cryptographic key via optical signals. The test kept the quantum bit error rate below 5% and generated keys at 230‑260 bits per second, showcasing the technology’s move out of the lab and toward real‑world networks.
This breakthrough arrives amid a worldwide scramble to prepare for the looming quantum‑computing threat. Over half (54%) of the world’s top‑million websites now support post‑quantum key exchange, yet only 27% of CISOs say they are actively deploying post‑quantum cryptography (PQC). In the United States, a GAO audit revealed that just one of 24 major federal agencies has completed the essential inventory of vulnerable systems, highlighting a gap between awareness and action.
The urgency is undersced by standards bodies: NIST has already standardized quantum‑resistant algorithms, and industry leaders like Google have pledged to transition by 2029. As governments and enterprises race to upgrade, the Indian test signals that free‑space QKD could become a cornerstone for securing satellite links and other high‑value communications.
What to watch next:
1. Scaling of free‑space QKD to longer distances and satellite platforms.
2. Rapid adoption of NIST‑approved PQC algorithms across critical infrastructure.
3. Federal and corporate efforts to complete cryptographic inventories and fund PQC migrations before a quantum computer capable of breaking today’s RSA and ECC emerges. [[1, 2, 3]]