Image: NASI, Timing Solutions’ Dr. Zdenek Chaloupka & NSAI’s David Fleming
What’s New: Ireland leading the way in authenticating GNSS signals to counter spoofing.
Why It’s Important: Spoofing is increasingly becoming a problem threatening the safety of life and property.
What Else to Know:
- We are seeing initiatives like this pop up in various western countries. While they only address part of the GNSS vulnerability problem, they are at least a start.
- The US PNT Advisory Board proposed a High Accuracy and Robustness Service (HARS) for GPS years ago and published a white paper in 2023. While the government says it is a good idea and should be implemented, stovepipes within the government and lack of senior leader involvement have prevented much progress on this.
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NSAI Launches Europe’s First Verified Global Navigation Satellite System Data Stream Service
The National Standards Authority of Ireland’s National Metrology Laboratory (NSAI NML) today announced the launch of Europe’s first ever verified GPS/GNSS Data Stream (VGDS) service, an extension to the National Timing Grid of Ireland (www.ntg.ie). This initiative developed in partnership with Timing Solutions, marks a significant step forward in ensuring secure and reliable Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, vital for government organisations, public institutions and business sectors including communications, energy, and transportation, public services, financial services, and cloud data centers as a source of accurate time.
The VGDS service provides verified GNSS data in the form of Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) packets via the internet, allowing users to verify their own GNSS data streams.
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), such as the US’s Global Positioning System (GPS) and the EU’s Galileo, are invaluable in our daily lives as they provide real-time navigation assistance for people and assets helping them find the most efficient routes, avoid traffic, and reach their destinations safely and quickly. In emergency situations, GNSS devices help locate individuals quickly, allowing first responders to reach them faster.
Pictured: Timing Solutions’ Dr. Zdenek Chaloupka & NSAI’s David Fleming
David Fleming, NSAI Technical Manager for Time & Frequency said,
“We are so excited to be launching in Ireland, Europe’s first ever Verified GNSS/GPS Data Stream service. As Ireland’s digital economy continues to grow and more services and public safety aspects are dependent on GNSS/GPS data, the importance of verifiable GNSS/GPS data in Ireland is paramount which made the establishment of this service a key priority for the NSAI NML.”
As Ireland’s national authority for measurement standards, NSAI NML is responsible for creating, maintaining and developing the national measurement standards for physical quantities (e.g. kilogram, second, meter, etc.) and making these standards available to Irish users. The VGDS service is being delivered by NSAI NML and led by specialist partner Timing Solutions, a NovaUCD and ESA BIC Ireland client company.
Dr. Zdenek Chaloupka, Founder, Timing Solutions said:
“The Timing Solutions team is delighted to be taking the lead in establishing Ireland as one of the leading countries around the world with respect to the provision of safe GNSS/GPS data and signals thereby improving the resiliency of the Critical Infrastructure sectors.”
GNSS systems like GPS have become an essential part of everyday life, from driver navigation and optimising farming operations to coordinating emergency services. However, their widespread use has also exposed vulnerabilities that can be exploited for criminal activities, including signal jamming and spoofing—both of which can disrupt crucial services and threaten public safety.
By offering a verified stream of GNSS data, the VGDS service mitigates these risks, ensuring that users in Ireland and beyond can trust the accuracy and reliability of their location and timing data. This service is particularly critical for Critical Infrastructure sectors, which depend on GNSS for accurate timekeeping, communications, and operational efficiency.
Dr. Chaloupka from Timing Solutions is presenting this new initiative at the International Time and Sync Forum (ITSF 2024), the world’s largest timing and sync event, gathering in Seville in November 2024. Access to the VGDS service can be requested by emailing NSAI NML at gnssdatatrial@nsai.ie or Timing Solutions at vgds@timingsolutions.ie.
