India on brink of launching satellite linked navigation services

NEW DELHI: India may soon roll out satellite -assisted navigation services in collaboration with Russia's NIS-GLONASS.

The two countries, after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin, today signed a memorandum of understanding for conducting the proof of concept through pilot project for providing the satellite-based navigation services.

The MoU envisages a pilot project to assess the usage of the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS)using the capabilities of BSNL/MTNL ground infrastructure.

The three-way partnership document was signed by R K Upadhyay, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., A K Garg, Chairman & Managing Director, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Alexander Chub, Director-General, OAO Navigation and Information Systems.

"Success of the pilot project may provide insights for wider applicability of GLONASS signals in the future in areas such as disaster management, telephony and long-distance communications," officials said.