MapMyIndia seeks level playing field with Google

Subject: Science and Technology

Context-

Homegrown MapMyIndia, which works on geospatial data, continues to seek a level playing field with the US tech giant on the usage of satellite imagery.

Disparity between domestic and foreign companies-

Indian government’s regulations put a limit on domestic companies working with geospatial data with regard to satellite imagery, but as Google is a US company, it is free from such restrictions.
Private companies in India using satellite imagery for either consumer or enterprise use cases cannot put out imagery finer than one-metre resolution.
However, Google Maps does not comply with this directive and offers even finer and crisper resolution on their maps to consumers, making this regulation a grey area.

MapmyIndia:

It is an Indian technology company that builds digital map data, telematics services, Global Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence services.
It is an alternative to Google Maps, which covers as many as 7.5 lakh Indian villages and 7,500 cities.
MapMyIndia offers multiple, digital mapping, navigation, and geospatial tech offerings and currently has a client base of 2,000 enterprise customers.
MapMyIndia also offers professional-grade maps and products directly to retail customers through the Mappls app and GPS IoT-enabled gadgets and devices.

Database:

The database has a road network connected by 63 lakh km and the organisation claims to consist of the most exhaustive digital map database of the country.

Use:

Almost all the vehicle manufacturers in India who come with built-in navigation systems are using MapmyIndia.
MapMyIndia’s consumer-facing app Mappls also offers features like road conditions, traffic patterns and conditions in real-time using its partnerships with original equipment manufacturers and mobility fleets.

Other Products:

App called ‘Move’ that provides real-time traffic updates and navigation.
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and MapmyIndia have partnered to come up with an indigenous geospatial portal known as ‘Bhuvan’.
- Bhuvan is a web portal used to find and access geographic information (geospatial information) and associated geographic services (display, editing, analysis, etc.) via the Internet.