Precise Positioning Solutions by Airtel IoT

Precise positioning technology combines Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) with cloud-based correction services to achieve centimeter-level accuracy. Standard GNSS typically results in position errors of 5-10 meters due to atmospheric interference and satellite clock errors. Airtel Precise Positioning will use advanced algorithms and a network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) across India to model these errors in real-time and deliver corrective data, making location awareness significantly more accurate than conventional systems.

Standard GNSS suffers from 5-10 meter errors caused by atmospheric interference, satellite clock drift, and orbital disturbances. Precise positioning eliminates these errors through a nationwide, cloud-based GNSS corrections service. While standard GPS provides “good enough” positioning for basic navigation, precise positioning delivers centimeter-level accuracy essential for autonomous vehicles, delivery drones, and precision agriculture. It utilizes a nationwide network of reference stations to model corrections that standard systems cannot.

Airtel Precise Positioning enhances location accuracy from meters to centimeters for enterprises across India. While standard systems have limitations resulting in 5-10 meter errors, this service provides high-precision data potentially down to just a few centimeters. This level of precision is achieved by continuously tracking GNSS satellite signals through a reference network and applying corrections in the cloud. This enables autonomous systems and agricultural equipment to operate with pinpoint accuracy and operational certainty.

GNSS correction works by calculating and modeling systematic errors in satellite signals in real-time. A network of high-precision reference stations across the country tracks satellite signals to identify disturbances like ionospheric interference (±5m), orbit errors (±2.5m), and satellite clock errors (±2m). These observations are processed in the cloud using advanced algorithms. The resulting stream of corrective data is delivered to end-user devices, which apply it to their receivers to achieve centimeter-level precision.

Essential components include a network of high-precision reference stations (CORS) established across the country to track satellite signals. These observations are processed by Swift Navigation’s Skylark™ cloud platform, which uses advanced algorithms to model errors. The corrective data is then delivered via Airtel’s nationwide IoT network. Finally, end-user devices, such as vehicles or drones, apply this corrective data to their GNSS receivers to achieve a precise centimeter-level position.

Reference stations continuously track GNSS satellite signals and stream observations to the Skylark cloud platform. Advanced algorithms calculate and model signal errors in real-time. This resulting corrective data stream is delivered from the cloud via Airtel’s nationwide IoT network to end-user devices. These devices, including vehicles and mobile equipment, apply the corrective data to their GNSS receivers instantly. This cloud-based model is far more efficient and scalable than traditional, localized correction services.

Reference stations, specifically Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), are the foundation for modeling cloud-based corrections. Airtel is deploying and operating this network across India to continuously track GNSS satellite signals. These stations provide the raw observations necessary for the cloud platform to calculate real-time errors in satellite signals. By using this extensive network, the service can deliver high-accuracy positioning with seamless availability across the entire continent, ensuring consistent centimeter-level precision for all connected devices.

The service provides real-time GNSS correction data delivered through Airtel’s nationwide IoT network, ensuring seamless availability across the continent. By utilizing advanced cloud algorithms and a nationwide network of reference stations, the system models errors instantaneously to deliver centimeter-level accuracy to end-user devices. This high-precision model is more efficient than traditional, localized correction services, making it ideal for supporting India’s rapidly growing and dynamic autonomous future.

Industries such as automotive and transportation benefit through advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles. Agriculture uses it for precision farming with automated tractors and sprayers to optimize yields. Logistics and last-mile delivery utilize it for autonomous drone and robotic navigation in urban environments. Other benefiting sectors include construction for precise planning, railways for train positioning, and micromobility for tracking shared vehicles. The service acts as a foundational enabler for various sectors critical to India’s economic growth.

Yes, this technology is a foundational enabler for fully autonomous vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). It enables safety-critical features like lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking by providing centimeter-level accuracy. Beyond road vehicles, it provides the accuracy required for autonomous drone and robotic delivery, particularly in dense urban areas. Airtel Precise Positioning is specifically designed to power India’s autonomous future by enhancing location awareness for these emerging autonomous applications.

In automotive sectors, it enables lane-level accuracy for driver-assistance systems and autonomous navigation. Smart tolling applications can implement barrier-less or lane-level tolling without expensive physical infrastructure like gantries. Micromobility services use it to ensure bikes and e-scooters are parked in designated zones. Additionally, railways use precise train positioning to enhance operational safety and efficiency. These applications rely on Airtel’s seamless, nationwide coverage to ensure continuous operational certainty across India.

Deployment requires GNSS receivers supporting multi-frequency signals from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou constellations. Receivers must handle RTCM 3.x correction formats and connect to Airtel’s 4G/5G networks for data delivery. Minimum bandwidth requirements are modest—typically 1-2 kbps for correction streams. Antennas need clear sky views, though modern systems handle moderate obstructions. Integration involves configuring receivers with Airtel correction service credentials and network settings. Most professional-grade GNSS equipment manufactured after 2018 supports these requirements, making adoption straightforward for businesses already using positioning technology.

Airtel’s precise positioning service is powered by Swift Navigation’s Skylark platform, which is fundamentally hardware-agnostic. This means the cloud-based corrections can be integrated with a wide variety of GNSS receivers used in end-user devices like mobile phones, vehicles, and robotics. This scalability allows Indian enterprises to leverage existing IoT investments while achieving centimeter-level accuracy. The solution is designed for seamless availability across India, supporting millions of devices without complex on-premise infrastructure.

Centimeter-level accuracy improves road safety by enabling foundational technologies like autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist. In construction and utilities, it allows for the accurate mapping of underground pipes and cables, enhancing safety during excavation. For railways, precise train positioning enhances the safety of rail operations through better control systems. By reducing positioning errors from meters to centimeters, Airtel Precise Positioning provides the operational certainty required for high-stakes applications like delivery drones and autonomous transport.

DGNSS provides 1-3 metre accuracy using code-based corrections from single reference stations, suitable for marine navigation. Network RTK delivers 1-2 centimetre precision through multiple reference stations creating area corrections, requiring dense infrastructure. PPP-RTK combines benefits—centimetre accuracy with fewer stations covering larger areas. Network RTK converges in under 1 minute but needs stations every 50-70 kilometres. PPP-RTK reaches similar accuracy with 100-200 kilometre station spacing, converging in 5 seconds typically. Airtel Precise Positioning utilises advanced algorithms optimising between methods based on user location and requirements.

Centimetre-level accuracy prevents accidents by ensuring vehicles stay within designated lanes, critical for autonomous systems navigating narrow roads. Emergency responders locate incidents precisely, reducing response times in dense urban areas where addresses prove inadequate. Construction equipment operates safely near utilities with exact underground asset positions. Precision agriculture machinery avoids obstacles and maintains safe distances from field boundaries. Railway systems prevent collisions through exact train positioning on specific tracks. Maritime operations navigate channels safely in poor visibility. Airtel Precise Positioning’s consistent accuracy and rapid convergence provide the reliability safety-critical operations demand across India.

Yes, the technology is specifically noted for its effectiveness in dense urban environments, particularly for logistics and last-mile delivery. It provides the centimeter-level accuracy needed for autonomous drones and robots to navigate complex city spaces safely. By using a cloud-based model and Airtel’s extensive IoT network, the service ensures seamless availability and continuous coverage across India’s urban centers. This allows apps for navigation and ride-sharing to provide exact pickup points even in crowded metropolitan areas.

The service supports real-time applications by using advanced algorithms to calculate and model GNSS signal errors instantaneously in the cloud. This resulting stream of corrective data is delivered with low latency via Airtel’s nationwide 4G/5G network to end-user devices. This allows mobile and consumer apps to deliver highly accurate, real-time location data for turn-by-turn directions and activity tracking. Real-time corrections are essential for the operation of autonomous vehicles and drones that require immediate positioning updates to navigate safely.

Satellite geometry impacts accuracy—more satellites spread across the sky improve precision. Atmospheric conditions cause variable delays, with ionospheric activity during solar storms degrading performance. Multipath from nearby structures reflects signals, introducing errors. Reference station density affects correction quality—closer stations model local errors better. Receiver quality matters significantly—multi-frequency units outperform basic models. Network latency influences real-time applications. Environmental obstructions blocking satellites reduce accuracy. Airtel Precise Positioning mitigates these factors through dense reference networks, advanced atmospheric modelling, and quality infrastructure, maintaining consistent centimetre-level accuracy across diverse conditions throughout India.

Businesses can explore how precise positioning transforms operations by contacting Airtel’s IoT pre-sales and enterprise sales teams. The technology is a game-changer for sectors like logistics, where it enables autonomous drone delivery and precise fleet management. It also powers precision agriculture by optimizing the use of water and fertilizer through exact tractor positioning. Interested parties can scan the provided QR code to learn more about this foundational enabler for digital innovation.