NavIC Set For Rollout: India’s Own GPS Will Be Available On Smartphones Soon

Smartphones and car navigation systems may soon have access to NavIC, India’s own Global Positioning System (GPS) developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Times of India has reported.

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, which works through a constellation of seven satellites, is in the final stages of launch, the report says.

“Request for Proposal has been called to start the implementation of NavIC so that the platform can be rolled out,” the daily has quoted Information Technology (IT) secretary Ajay Prakash as saying.

According to the report, Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad has also confirmed the development work for the rollout of NavIC.

ISRO has already miniaturised the crucial chipsets which go into wireless devices such as cell phones and WiFi receivers.

NavIC can be used for terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, vehicle tracking, disaster management, mapping and geodetic data capture, visual and voice navigation for drivers and much more.

While the GPS has a position accuracy of 20-30 meters, NavIC will provide standard positioning service to all users with a position accuracy of 5 meters. However, unlike GPS, the Indian navigation system will only cover the country and a region extending 1,500 km around it. ISRO plans to extend the coverage further.

Besides the United States, Russia (GLONASS), the European Union (Galileo) and China (Beidou Navigation Satellite System) also have their own navigation systems.