GNSS

eSIM OTA test solution verification supports ERA-GLONASS

All new vehicles in the Euroasian Economic Union (EAEU) must be equipped with the ERA-GLONASS emergency calling system. Certification for these eCall systems is based on the Russian GOST R System specifications, where GOST 33470 covers the test methods for wireless communication modules of in-vehicle emergency call devices and systems. The newly added Chapter 9 will make SIM OTA testing mandatory from January 2019.

Anritsu and Comprion are now able to offer a test solution for the remote provisioning and management of the Embedded UICC (eUICC) in IVS (In Vehicle System) Devices which operates in accordance with GSMA SGP.02 v.3.1 and confirmation of its compliance to the corresponding standards (GOSTs) and regulations. eSIM allows the profile (a combination of a file structure, data and applications which allows access to a specific mobile network infrastructure) to be changed via an OTA environment. This is particularly attractive to the automotive market as it is physically hard to change a SIM card already deployed within the IVS of a vehicle. www.anritsu.com

Russia grants Kazakhstan access to military satellite signal

Kazakhstan now has access to a frequency of Russia’s Glonass global navigation system used by the military to guide highprecision weaponry.The frequency has also been used by India since 2010 and Algeria since this year. www.spacewar.com

Another pair of Chinese navigation satellites successfully launched

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched two satellites to become the eighth and ninth spacecraft added to the country’s Beidou navigation system so far this year. With this launch, China’s Beidou program has added nine new satellites this year, including three previous Long March 3B flights with pairs of Beidou spacecraft going to Medium Earth Orbit, plus a Long March 3A launch earlier this month with a single payload heading for an inclined geosynchronous orbit. https://spaceflightnow.com

Pentagon restricts fitness and GPS trackers for deployed personnel

The Pentagon is banning the use of GPS on mobile devices in war zones and other sensitive locations, saying that fitness trackers and smartphone apps pose a “significant risk” to U.S. military personnel. The move bars deployed service members from using the devices in “operational areas” unless commanders have granted an exception.

The restrictions were issued some six months after the location and movements of U.S. troops were included in a usage map published by the Strava fitness tracking company. The global map reflected more than 1 billion paths that the Strava app tracked — but patterns and locations of U.S. service members could be gleaned from zooming in on sensitive or secured areas. Other services have similar usage maps, and the data they collect might be available to other app users or online.

“These geolocation capabilities can expose personal information, locations, routines, and numbers of DoD personnel,” according to Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan, “and potentially create unintended security consequences and increased risk to the joint force and mission.”

The new Pentagon policy allows commanding officers to evaluate whether troops should be allowed to use geolocation technology if they deem it doesn’t pose a threat — or if a mission requires the use of GPS apps. It also encouraged commanders of troops not in deployed areas to consider applying the ban. www.npr.org

First global GNSS-Reflectometry ocean wind data service

The first global GNSS-Reflectometry ocean wind data service has been launched by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) together with partner the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), and with support from the European Space Agency. The data service is free and is hosted on the website www.merrbys.co.uk where users can access measurements of wind taken by a specially designed GNSS receiver hosted on SSTL’s TechDemoSat-1 satellite, which collects GNSS signals, such as GPS, reflected off the surface of the ocean. TechDemoSat-1 is also collecting GNSS reflections off land and polar regions, opening the door for new applications of this technology, such as soil moisture and ice measurements. TechDemoSat-1 was launched in 2014 and carried 8 payloads from different UK organisations. www.sstl.co.uk

Glonass-K1 launch next year

Launch of a new satellite “GLONASS-K1” will be held next year. According to preliminary data, as previously reported, it will occur in March 2019, delaying the start for exactly three months. https://ktelegram.com

‘Can’t keep soldiers away from social media, smartphones’, says army chief of India

Soldiers cannot be prevented from using smartphones and social media but there has to be discipline, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said recently. He said he had been advised to keep soldiers away from smartphones, but that was not possible, so best to allow it.

"We have received advice that we should advise our soldiers to stay away from social media. Can you deny a soldier from the possession of a smartphone?" General Rawat questioned.

"If you can’t prevent usage of smartphone, best to allow it, but important to have means of imposing discipline," he added.

General Rawat also said in modern day warfare, information warfare was important and artificial intelligence (AI) was being talked about. "If we have to leverage AI to our advantage we must engage through social media as a lot of what we wish to gain as part of AI will come via social media," said the army chief, according to ANI.