ISRO plans to extend use of regional satellite navigation system in civilian sectors

New Delhi, Oct 27 (KNN) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is considering to expand its regional satellite navigation system NaVIC to increase its use in civilian sector and ships, aircraft travelling far from the country's borders.

The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NaVIC) uses seven satellites to provide real-time positioning and timing services in India and an area extending up to 1,500 km from the country's borders.

Replacing five of these with improved L-Band ISRO plans to enable it to offer better global positioning services to the public.

This move also comes as several satellites of the constellation have outlived their lives.

"We have five more satellites in production, they have to be launched periodically to replace the defunct satellites. The new satellites will have L-1, L-5 and S Band," ISRO Chairman S Somanath told news agency PTI.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the India Space Congress organised by the SatCom Industry Association.

The ISRO chairman said the new satellites being built for NaVIC would also have better features for safety of signals for different uses, particularly the strategic sector.  (KNN Bureau)