Shillong, September 13: Apple, fresh off the launch of its iPhone 15 series, has introduced support for India’s NavIC satellite navigation system in its high-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models for location-based services.
As per IANS, in the tech specifications, Apple highlights that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max now offer compatibility with NavIC, the indigenous navigation system designed as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Under the location category, the tech specs state, “Precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, and NavIC).”
This marks the first instance of Apple incorporating NavIC support into its iPhone models.
Until now, GPS, owned by the US government, has been the dominant satellite-based navigation system in India and worldwide.
India’s effort to promote its own navigation system aims to reduce dependence on GPS and other existing systems. Several smartphone manufacturers like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Realme already offer NavIC support on select devices.
India seeks to expand the global coverage of NavIC and encourages tech companies to make their devices compatible with this new standard.
To fulfill the positioning, navigation, and timing requirements of the nation, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) established NavIC, formerly known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
Currently, there are eight first-generation NavIC satellites in orbit, with four dedicated to navigation services and four for messaging services, as confirmed by a senior ISRO official.
In May, India achieved the successful launch of the first satellite from its second-generation navigation system, NVS-01.
NavIC’s coverage area extends to India and a region up to 1,500 km beyond the Indian boundary, as outlined by ISRO. Importantly, NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with signals from other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), including GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou.