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Deadline for NavIC Compliant Smartphones in Inia
All smartphones sold in India must be NavIC-compatible by the end of 2025. Government of India has given manufacturers enough time and a set timeline to adapt their devices to meet this requirement.
Technical Specifications
Smartphones must support the NavIC satellite system, which operates on two primary frequency bands
L5 Band (1176.45 MHz)
S Band (2492.028 MHz)
This may necessitate hardware modifications, as these frequency bands differ from those used by GPS (L1 and L2 bands).
Collaboration with Chipset Manufacturers
The mandate encourages smartphone makers to work with chipset providers like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and others to ensure chipsets are NavIC-compatible. This includes making chipsets capable of receiving NavIC signals on the required frequency bands.
Government Assistance and Incentives
To support the transition, the government may offer subsidies, technical assistance, and incentives for local manufacturing to offset potential increased production costs for Indian and foreign smartphone brands.
Consumer and Developer Awareness
The mandate encourages awareness campaigns to educate developers and consumers about NavIC and its benefits, aiming to ensure broader acceptance and usage across applications.
Specific Exemptions for Low-Cost Devices
Recognizing the impact on cost-sensitive segments, the mandate includes potential exemptions or phased implementations for budget smartphones, to allow time for affordable technology solutions to become available.
Focus on Enhanced Features
Besides basic compatibility, the mandate encourages devices to take advantage of NavIC’s improved accuracy, focusing on use cases for navigation apps, emergency response, and public services.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The mandate specifies penalties or restrictions on companies that fail to comply by the set deadline, ensuring adherence across the market.
This mandate aligns with India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) mission, intending to build greater self-sufficiency in essential technology infrastructure.
