News Highlight
The government is pushing smartphone makers to enable support for its NavIC navigation system in new devices sold in the country from next year.
Key Takeaway,
- The Government says NavIC was conceived to remove dependence on foreign satellite systems for navigation service requirements, particularly for “strategic sectors.”
- India also wants to encourage its ministries to use NavIC applications to promote local industry engagement in developing indigenous NavIC-based solutions.
What IS NavIC?
- About:
- NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is an independent, stand-alone navigation satellite system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- Satellites:
- NavIC consists of eight satellites and covers the whole of India’s landmass and up to 1,500 km (930 miles) from its boundaries.
- Three satellites are in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
- Four satellites are in inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO).
- Current applications:
- Currently, NavIC’s use is limited.
- It is being used in India:
- Public vehicle tracking.
- Providing emergency warning alerts to fishermen.
- Tracking and providing information related to natural disasters.
- Services:
- Standard Positioning Service (SPS) is meant for the general public.
- Restricted Service (RS) is an encrypted service for authorised users and agencies.
- India’s position:
- India became the fourth country in the world to have its independent regional navigation satellite system recognised by the International Maritime Organisation(IMO).
- The other countries with navigation systems are the US, Russia and China.
Global Navigation systems:
- The Global Positioning System (GPS):
- It is a satellite-based radio navigation system owned by the United States government.
- The GPS caters to users across the globe.
- Its satellites circle the earth twice a day.
- Galileo:
- It’s a global navigation satellite system created by the European Union through the European Space Agency.
- GLONASS:
- It is a Russian satellite navigation system operating as part of a radio navigation-satellite service.
- The Glonass Program started back in 1976 when development was initiated.
- The first Glonass launch occurred in 1982, and the constellation became fully operational in 1995.
- Glonass-K2 and KM satellites are under development.
- Beidou:
- The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is a Chinese satellite navigation system.
- It consists of two separate satellite constellations.
- QZSS:
- The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, also known as Michibiki, is a four-satellite regional time transfer system and a satellite-based augmentation system developed by Japan.
Pic Courtesy: Times of India and Firstpost
Content Source: Business Standard