GNSS

UK invests in satellite timing to boost national PNT resilience

GMV is leading the development of a secure two-way satellite time and frequency transfer system under the European Space Agency’s TOUCAN Project – the two way satellite time and frequency transfer capability demonstration (TWSTFT).

The initiative safeguards critical infrastructure by reducing reliance on GNSS and enhancing national positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities. Funded by the UK Space Agency, the project is an important part of the UK Government’s Framework for Greater PNT Resilience. www.gmv.com

SES extends EGNOS GEO-1 satellite service to power precise navigation

SES, a space solutions company, and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) have announced an extension of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) GEO-1 satellite service agreement through 2030, with an option to extend until 2032.

By improving the accuracy and integrity of satellite positioning signals, EGNOS supports aircraft in landing in low visibility conditions, as well as planning more efficient routes, reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions. www.ses.com

Pak-SBAS navigation system

Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) has annouunced successful launch of its Pak-SBAS satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) device and service.

The service was rigorously tested in the extreme desert conditions of Cholistan during Cholistan Desert Rally 2026. The Cholistan desert experinces high speeds, unpredictable routes, and the absence of visual landmarks that demand exceptional positioning accuracy and signal reliability for autos and motorcycles. The system also will benefit the surveying and mapping sectors by minimizing positional inaccuracies and reducing project costs. https://suparco.gov.pk

BeiDou-based short messaging service

China has launched a short messaging service leveraging BeiDou (BDS) to provide reliable communication during emergencies when ground-based mobile networks are unavailable. The service is be a supplement to terrestrial mobile networks, expected to enhance safety and communication reliability for users across scenarios such as hiking in remote mountains, working at sea etc. China’s three primary telecom operators — China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom — have all integrated the service. https://english.news.cn

Shipping industry receives guidance on GNSS-denied navigation

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and its members have produced an informational poster for ship crews that highlights strategies when GNSS signals are jammed or denied. The Navigating in Areas of Unreliable Satellite Signals poster is available for free on the ICS website.

This reliance on GNSS, however, has created a growing vulnerability. Incidents of GPS jamming and spoofing, once a military concern, now increasingly affect merchant ships at sea and near ports. www.ics-shipping.org

European PAVE-SCAN project

The European Union PAVE-SCAN project aims to build European GNSS-based and AI-driven technologies to detect and assess roadway pavement problems. The proposed project aims for the development to market (TRL8-9) of European GNSS-based integrated low-cost sensor technologies and artificial-intelligence driven open-architecture software solution — machine learning (ML) and machine vision (MV) — for the detection, classification and georeferencing of roadway pavement surface anomalies, and for the low-cost assessment of roadway pavements using participatory sensing.

The proposed system is of practical importance because it provides continuous information about roadway pavement surface anomalies — valuable for efficiently monitoring the transport infrastructure and for public safety. The vision for roadway condition assessment using smartphone-like technology is under the hypothesis that such technology can be used for crowd-sourced data collection and analysis in GIS-based pavement management systems (PMS). pave-scan.eu

Safran acquires Syntony

Safran Electronics & Defense has acquired Syntony GNSS, a simulator and receiver company founded in 2015 in Toulouse, France. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Safron’s resilient PNT innovations. In 2023, Safran acquired Orolia, also for its GNSS and PNT expertise. Under the agreement, signed Feb. 13, Safran will take 100% of Syntony’s share capital, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed. www.safran-group.com

Spirent partnership with ESA

Spirent Communications, now part of Keysight Technologies, has partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead an initiative aimed at increasing the resilience of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems used in critical national infrastructure. Under the initiative, Spirent and partners will deliver a comprehensive test framework to drive measurable resilience in PNT systems for users, operators and providers of critical infrastructure in the United Kingdom. www.spirent.com

NovAtel updates firmware with advancements in GNSS reliability

NovAtel has released its latest firmware for the OEM7 family of GNSS receivers, featuring improvements in positioning reliability and accuracy. The firmware release sets new standards for innovation and reliability with the introduction of advanced tracking capabilities that enhance GNSS performance in challenging or obstructed environments. novatel.com