Aug 12 (Reuters) - India's space authority has selected a team led by startup PixxelSpace, which is supported by Google, to develop a locally manufactured commercial earth observation satellite network. The project will see an investment of over 12 billion rupees (around $137 million) over the next five years, the agency announced on Tuesday.

The team includes several Indian space technology companies, such as Piersight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space. According to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), this group will collectively design, manufacture, and manage the satellite system.

The consortium led by PixxelSpace secured the contract after surpassing competing bids from Indian defense firms Astra Microwave and Bharat Electronics.

The Indian government aims to reduce reliance on foreign navigation and spatial systems, notably the U.S.-based Global Positioning System (GPS). Officials highlight that India’s own satellite navigation network, NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), provides more accurate data for local use and supports national economic interests.

This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader policy promoting self-sufficiency, with NavIC playing a growing role in this strategy.

India has also urged global smartphone manufacturers to make their devices compatible with NavIC within a short timeframe — a move that has raised concerns among companies such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and Apple.

($1 = 87.6790 Indian rupees)