Quantum Computing Poses Challenge To Confidentiality Of Communications: Former NCSC Pant
New Delhi : Quantum computing poses a challenge for telecommunications security and may impact the privacy of communications, said Rajesh Pant, President, Cyber Security Association of India and Former National Cyber Security Coordinator, on Thursday, highlighting the need for stronger digital protection systems as artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies continue to evolve.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the National Summit on Telecom Security in the Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Age organized by CSAI, Pant said: “Quantum computing is a challenge because there is a CIA concept: confidentiality, integrity and availability. We expect any conversation we have through the phone network to remain private, its integrity preserved and accessible when we need it. The challenge is that if quantum is used to break this, confidentiality is lost.”
Pant said telecom security is becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence transforms the cyber threat landscape. He noted that artificial intelligence is used by attackers to create deepfakes, impersonations and sophisticated phishing attacks, but the same technology can also help strengthen cybersecurity defenses.
“AI versus AI. While AI is used to create these types of attacks like deepfakes and impersonation, it will also be used for the protection part. AI can quickly detect whether it is a deepfake or fraud, including a spear phishing email,” he said.
He emphasized that protecting digital infrastructure requires a “whole of nation” approach involving citizens, the private sector, academia and government.
Pant said critical sectors, including telecommunications, are increasingly facing cyber threats from nation-state actors with advanced capabilities.
“Today, the private sector is being attacked by different nation states. The attack capacity of the nation state is wide. The government must step in and ensure the protection of the critical sector,” he added.
He also said that collaboration between all stakeholders will be essential to create secure and resilient communication networks in the evolving digital age.
At the same event, Ministry of External Affairs OSD Ashwini Bhardwaj told ANI that global cooperation is essential to secure telecom networks as digital connectivity expands across borders and new challenges emerge from artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies.
He said telecom security has always been a sensitive issue, but its importance has increased as trade, economy, healthcare and other critical sectors now depend on internet connectivity supported by telecom infrastructure.
Emphasizing that data flows through sea cables, terrestrial networks and satellite-based systems, Bhardwaj said, “A country does not have an isolated network. Every country is interconnected.”
He warned that a vulnerability in one part of the global network could affect other countries. “The weakest link anywhere in this larger threat landscape actually impacts somewhere else,” he said.
Bhardwaj emphasized that nations must work together to ensure secure and resilient communication systems. “We need to develop together,” he said, referring to India’s “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” approach.
He added that artificial intelligence and telecom have a promising future with countries focusing on collective growth, cooperation and shared benefits while tackling emerging security challenges.
