New Delhi: Global standards body third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which develops protocols for mobile telephony, has approved India’s regional navigation system Navigation with Indian Constellation (NaVIC), developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
This move would bring NavIC technology to the commercial market for its use in 4G, 5G and Internet of Things (IoT). Manufacturers will also be able to mass-produce navigation devices compatible with NaVIC.
During its meeting in California from September 16 to 20, (3GPP) had approved the inclusion of NaVIC in Rel-16, 17 5G NR specification. Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), will soon adopt these specifications as a national standard, and cellular (IoT) devices will begin to use the NaVIC system in contrast to the American GPS system.
ISRO chairman K Sivan said, “We are extremely happy to know about the 3GPP approval of NaVIC. NaVIC is fully operational and is doing a great job. Currently eight satellites are already functional. We will bring out more NaVIC apps that will benefit the common man, soon.”
The 3GPP is a telecommunications standard development organisation which provides their members with a stable environment to produce specifications that defines 3GPP technologies.
Simply put, India will no longer be dependent on America’s GPS navigation system. Indigenous NaVIC will soon replace GPS. Apparently all the smartphones sold in India will have to adapt with Indian Standard navigation system.
