JOIN USWith the successful launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh and final of the satellites that form the Indian regional navigation satellite system, India now has its own global positioning system (GPS). Isro has again made the country proud by providing it with an indigenously designed navigation system. Only the US, Russia and China have their own systems now. The European Union and Japan are developing their own systems. The Indian GPS, called Navic (Navigation with Indian satellite constellation), has been in the making for long. The first IRNSS satellite was launched in 2013.The delay in launching subsequent satellites caused some loss of satellite time as all these satellites have a life of 10 years. But Isro did well to launch the last 3 this year. The need for a reliable GPS system need not be reiterated. India became acutely aware of the need for its own system during the Kargil war when the US refused to provide the country with the GPS data of the region.
The IRNSS will provide two kinds of services. The standard positioning service is for civilian use and the restricted encrypted service is for the armed forces. It will take some more time for the system to be fully operational as more tests are needed in all 3 segments of space, ground and receivers. Once it becomes functional, the applications are varied: terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, tracking of vehicles and fleet management, directions for hikers and travellers, disaster management, integration with mobiles and spatial mapping of territories where its footprint falls. It gives a positional accuracy of 10 metres, which may be improved over time. The cost will also come down in future. Navigation signal receivers will have to be made by manufacturers for wider use of the system. With the use of a smart chip in a mobile or a positioning device communication is possible with the satellite all time.
There is a suggestion that the use of Navic should be mandated by the government in all its agencies and emergency systems. This may encourage the production of signal receivers. It is also possible to develop various apps for a number of areas by integration with mobile systems. In many ways, the country has made a remarkable leap with the development of Navic. Its range is limited to 1,500 km beyond India’s borders. The US, Russian and Chinese systems have a global reach with 30-40 satellites in orbit. The Indian system will have to be upgraded and expanded in course of time so that
it becomes global. The country’s growing commercial and strategic interests will necessitate such expansion.