Despite its telecom investments in India under threat, Russian major Sistema is looking to partner Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for offering navigation system through a satellite based technology.

Called GLONASS - acronym for Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema – it is a global navigation satellite system. BSNL is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to utilise this service. BSNL may initially start a pilot project to test the service before going commercial.

There are a number of applications for this service, including police patrol monitoring, transport monitoring, city bus fleet management and accident emergency response system.

Apple iPhone already has GLONASS support. Sony Ericsson, Nokia and others have plans to implement GLONASS in their smartphones this year.

Recently, NIS GLONASS opened a showroom in Mumbai. While the main focus for NIS GLONASS would be in commercial projects, the company is also looking at projects aimed at the social sector.

According to Russia & India Report, the company is looking to implement a system in India similar to the ERA-GLONASS project in Russia, an accident and emergency response system.

Under the project, new motor vehicles sold in Russia will have GLONASS satellite navigation communication terminals.

In the event of a serious accident, the terminal would automatically be activated and transmit the vehicle’s exact coordinates and other data to an emergency response centre.

The public safety answering point operator would then attempt to contact occupants of the vehicle through the terminal’s hands-free communication system, and proceed to dispatch emergency services.

The ERA-GLONASS project is being developed on the same lines as the eCall initiative in the European Union.

> thomas.thomas@thehindu.co.in

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