NavIC in Mobiles | 24 Jan 2020

Why in News

Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled mobile chipsets supporting the Indian regional satellite navigation system - NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation).

  • Users of such mobile chipsets will be able to use NavIC within the Indian region and neighbouring countries.

Key Points

  • The release of chipsets will help accelerate the adoption of NavIC by smartphone Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The OEMs can now release any new models for the Indian market which are NavIC enabled, thus eventually making NavIC as a standard feature in the upcoming handsets, applications, processors, etc.
    • OEM traditionally is defined as a company whose goods are used as components in the products of another company, which then sells the finished item to users.
  • The availability of NavIC across multiple mobile platforms will help enhance the geolocation capabilities of smartphones in the region.
  • An Aid Against Crime:
    • In April 2019, the government has made NavIC-based vehicle trackers mandatory for all commercial vehicles in the country in accordance with the Nirbhaya case verdict.
    • NavIC in mobiles will facilitate the implementation of a key mandate from the Nirbhaya case verdict which required the installation of vehicle tracking systems and panic buttons in all commercial vehicles.
    • NavIC is set to become the backbone of a public vehicle tracking system in India since it offers flexibility to local law enforcement agencies to monitor vehicles unlike international systems like the GPS (global positioning system).
  • In addition to NavIC, these chipsets will also support the widely used GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
    • GNSS includes USA's GPS, European Union's Galileo, Russia's GLONASS and China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System for global coverage.

Navigation in Indian Constellation (NavIC)

  • It has been developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
  • The main objective is to provide reliable position, navigation and timing services over India and its neighbourhood
  • Named after Indian fishermen and navigators, NavIC will provide two types of services-
    • Standard Positioning Service (SPS) is meant for the general public.
    • Restricted Service (RS) is an encrypted service meant for authorised users and agencies.
  • Unlike the widely used GPS which includes 24 satellites, NavIC has 7 satellites and their range is within India and its adjoining regions extending up to 1,500 km from the country's border.
  • Technically satellite systems with more satellites provide more accurate positioning information. However, compared to GPS which has a position accuracy of 20-30 metres, the NavIC is able to pinpoint location to an estimated accuracy of under 20 metres.

Source: Mint