For the first time, an Indian company will design and manufacture chipsets capable of receiving and processing signals from India’s indigenous navigational system, NavIC. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), NavIC allows precise geographic location determination and movement tracking within India and up to 1500 kilometers beyond its territorial boundaries.
To utilize NavIC, devices need a compatible chipset to receive and decode its signals. Currently, this capability is provided by foreign companies like Qualcomm Technologies and Mediatek Inc. However, the Indian Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Manjeera Digital Systems Private Limited, are working to design and produce these chipsets domestically. Manjeera Digital Systems has created a baseband processor chip using an indigenously developed Universal Multifunctional Accelerator (UMA) processor IP, enabling it to receive, read, and process NavIC signals. These chipsets will soon enter large-scale commercial production.
This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and showcases the potential of public-private partnerships in advancing technology. The development of these indigenously produced chipsets is a significant step towards self-reliance in space technology and marks a milestone in India’s technological capabilities. NavIC, India’s indigenous navigation system, is now set to be enhanced by chipsets designed and produced within the country, reinforcing its status as a “Made in India” marvel.