India’s regional navigation system, NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation), is under plans for expansion to extend its use within the civilian sector and aircraft and ships operating far from the national borders.
Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NavIC or the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) operates with a constellation of seven active satellites and a network of ground stations. The first satellite was launched on 1st July 2013, and the eighth, IRNSS-1I, was introduced in April 2018. However, only seven satellites currently remain active.
Recognition of NavIC
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognised NavIC as part of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region in 2020. This followed the renaming of IRNSS to NavIC by India’s Prime Minister in 2016 after the successful launch of IRNSS-1G, the seventh unit of the constellation.
Potential Uses and Significance of NavIC
NavIC can be utilised for various purposes such as terrestrial, aerial, marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking, fleet management, integration with mobile phones, precise timing and geodetic data capturing.
It offers real-time positioning services for civilian use and a restricted service, encrypted for authorised users like the military. The deployment of NavIC reduces India’s dependence on foreign navigation systems and helps bolster scientific and technological advancement in India.
NavIC’s Importance for India’s Sovereignty and Strategic Requirements
In 2019, India mandated NavIC-based vehicle trackers for all commercial vehicles in compliance with the Nirbhaya case verdict. Qualcomm Technologies has also revealed mobile chipsets supporting NavIC, which further enhances its coverage.
Issues with NavIC and Plans for Improvement
Some satellites of the constellation that have exceeded their lifespan are planned for replacement by ISRO with satellites equipped with the improved L-Band. This would enable NavIC to offer more precise global positioning services to users.
In addition, ISRO plans to provide long codes for strategic sector use instead of the current short code to prevent signal breaches or spoofing.
Global and Regional Navigation Systems
There are four other global navigation systems in operation – GPS from the U.S., GLONASS from Russia, Galileo from the European Union, and BeiDou from China. In addition, Japan operates the QZSS regional navigation system along with India’s NavIC.
The Need for NavIC
Though GPS and GLONASS are available, they are controlled by defence agencies, and their civilian service can be degraded or denied. As a completely independent regional system, NavIC provides position service within the region without depending on other systems.
Future of NavIC
In order for NavIC to become equivalent to global systems like GPS, more satellites need to be placed in closer orbits to earth. Currently, NavIC’s reach limits to 1,500 km beyond Indian territory. In order to extend the reach, satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) will need to be added.