The top alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) option, Satellite Time and Location (STL) service, is now more widely available commercially, according to Iridium Communications, a prominent global supplier of satellite communications services for voice and data. Iridium partners are now able to offer the service in some regions of Europe and Asia Pacific due to rising commercial demand. This helps to safeguard regionally dependent GNSS systems, such as GPS and Galileo, by providing a signal that is extremely resistant to spoofing and jamming and helps to maintain the accuracy of timing systems. Iridium STL can provide service anywhere in the world, and as the company’s partners grow and develop their sales and support teams, more regions are scheduled for commercial authorization.
GPS spoofing and jamming have become much more common, especially in Europe, however they are also becoming more common in some areas of Asia. These attacks represent a significant risk to vital infrastructure, including electricity grids, data centres, transportation networks, financial institutions, and telecommunications systems. These sectors all stand to gain from the deployment of stronger PNT signals, such as Iridium’s STL service. In addition to having a signal 1,000 times stronger than GPS, the Iridium STL service is specially designed for interior use and doesn’t require the installation of rooftop antennas, making it a more secure and affordable timing solution.
“We’re cognizant of the threats facing GNSS-reliant critical infrastructure around the world and our responsibility to deploy the antidote as quickly as possible,” Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium, stated. “As Iridium recently purchased Satelles, I promised to step on the pedal and boost market availability for this increasingly in demand solution, as the typical person becomes more and more aware of how crucial systems like GPS are in our daily lives. The declaration made today shows that dedication.”
The Iridium STL solutions are relatively simple to install, compact, and reasonably priced. At the same time, brand-name technology partners are putting more of an emphasis on these new markets in Europe and Asia by producing and selling STL-capable consumer equipment. Their STL solutions can function as standalone primary or as an addition to current GNSS-dependent network systems.
