India is poised to achieve a significant milestone in its quest for self-reliance with the development and manufacturing of chipsets capable of receiving and processing signals from the indigenous navigational system, NavIC. This groundbreaking achievement marks the first time that NavIC-compatible chipsets will be designed and produced by an Indian company, representing a remarkable stride in India’s technological prowess.
NavIC, short for Navigation with Indian Constellation, is a satellite-based navigational system developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It empowers users to precisely determine their geographic location and track movements within India and up to 1500 kilometers beyond the country’s territorial boundaries.
Notably, not all smartphones and navigational devices are equipped to utilize NavIC signals. To harness the capabilities of NavIC, devices must incorporate NavIC-compatible chipsets or microchips capable of decoding and processing signals transmitted by the seven Indian satellites. Until now, these chipsets were predominantly supplied by foreign companies such as Qualcomm Technologies from the USA and Mediatek Inc. from Taiwan.
In a pioneering effort, India’s Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology have partnered with Hyderabad-based Manjeera Digital Systems Private Limited to facilitate the design and commercial production of these chipsets within the country. Manjeera Digital Systems has developed a baseband processor chip utilizing the indigenously developed Universal Multifunctional Accelerator (UMA) processor IP, which possesses the capability to receive, interpret, and process NavIC signals. These chipsets are poised for large-scale commercial production in the near future.
Manjeera Digital Systems, a fabless semiconductor company, has introduced a patented High-Performance Computing (HPC) processor known as UMA. This innovative product enables navigation and tracking for both commercial and civilian applications. The initiative is further supported by the Technology Development Board within the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
This groundbreaking endeavor aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, emphasizing self-reliance in state-of-the-art technologies. It not only symbolizes the indigenization of cutting-edge technologies but also underscores the significance of public-private partnerships in India. Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has played a pivotal role in advancing this indigenous chipset technology, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and self-reliance in space and information technology.
NavIC, or the Navigation with Indian Constellation, stands as a testament to India’s technological prowess. With precision and celestial grace, NavIC illuminates the skies, guiding travelers and explorers with unparalleled accuracy. This constellation comprises seven satellites in orbit, weaving a celestial tapestry of signals that empower navigation, positioning, and timing across the vast Indian subcontinent and beyond. NavIC primarily utilizes signals from the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) for navigation and positioning, offering a remarkable positional accuracy of 5 meters compared to 15-20 meters provided by GPS.
NavIC is India’s beacon of self-reliance in the field of satellite navigation, and the development of indigenous NavIC-enabled chipsets marks a significant step towards realizing a truly ‘Made in India’ marvel.
