GPS to become a thing of the past as India gears up to switch to desi navigation system

India will soon get its own navigation system, replacing the US-owned Global Positioning System (GPS) used to get the time and place information anywhere on or near the earth.

The indigenous position determination system being developed by national space agency ISRO will have enhanced access in remote areas, an official said.

It will also aid in navigation and monitoring of fleet (trucks and ships) movement, the official added.

"We will have our own position determination system using our own navigation constellation, the IRNSS series which will be operational by middle of next year. It is a kind of replacement GPS," said Deviprasad Karnik, the director, publication and public relations, ISRO.

Four of the seven satellites in IRNSS constellation (IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D) are in orbit. Remaining three satellites (IRNSS-1E, 1F and 1G) are targeted for launch during January 2016 to March 2016, he said.

"Once the constellation is completed, we need some time to establish the accuracy part, validation and other things. The advantage is that the navigation range has been designed to span around 1,500 km radius around India," he said.

"GPS is not available at all places. Signal is weak in remote areas but our own signal will be available in remote areas with better accuracy."

As an example of the app-based positioning service, Karnik said, it will help in effective management of fleet movement.

"Monitoring and effective management of fleet of trucks or ship monitoring will be done through spacecraft. For example, for ships the system can inform which route will be more effective. That will save time and fuel," he said.

(With IANS inputs)