India will soon have its own satellite navigation system on the lines of GPS by the US, GLONASS by Russia, European Union’s Galileo and China’s BNS, with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) in the process of coming out with a tender to invite companies, including start-ups, to commercially manufacture NavIC chips.
NavIC, or navigation with Indian constellation, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), allows navigation in the Indian Ocean region using Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) satellite and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite. “We are working on NavIC and will soon commercially launch it. Preparations are in full swing in my ministry,” minister for electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad told Financial Express.
MeitY is working on developing an ecosystem for NavIC receivers for civilian and commercial sectors. “At present, the ministry has prepared a draft request for proposal (RFP) after holding detailed consultation with the industry. The government will promote start-ups and MSMEs to enter this area, which will help enhancing competence of the domestic market. The MeitY will soon come out with the final RFP for developing NavIC chips,” Prasad said.
Another official said to FE that NavIC is India’s answer to the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BNS. Having an indigenous satellite navigation technology will not only develop the domestic market but will also give a huge tactical and strategic advantage to India vis-a-vis countries such as the US, Russia and China who have their own systems.
