Spirent Partners with ESA to Lead PNT Resilience Initiative

In a significant development for the UK's critical national infrastructure (CNI), Spirent Communications, now part of Keysight Technologies Inc., has announced a strategic partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The initiative aims to enhance the resilience of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems, which are crucial for various sectors including finance, energy, and telecommunications. This new venture, supported by ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP), underscores the urgent need for robust PNT systems in an increasingly interconnected world.

As reliance on PNT systems grows, vulnerabilities have become a pressing concern. A recent report from the UK Government highlighted that a seven-day disruption of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) could cost the UK economy approximately £7.6 billion. This alarming statistic emphasizes the need for enhanced PNT resilience, as critical infrastructure operations are heavily dependent on satellite-based systems.

Mark Holbrow, Vice President of Engineering and Product Development at Spirent Positioning, articulated the challenge: “For years, organizations have been wrestling with a fundamental challenge: they know PNT resilience matters, but they do not have a clear way to measure it.” The new initiative aims to address this gap, providing the tools and frameworks necessary for operators to quantify and track PNT resilience over time.

The resilience initiative will consist of three core components designed to improve the assessment, validation, and rating of PNT systems:

The Spirent PNT Alliance will include partnerships with the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) and other strategic entities, focusing on building a resilient PNT ecosystem in the UK. Dr. Ramsey Faragher, Director of the RIN, emphasized the growing risks of GNSS disruptions, stating, “Intentional and malicious disruptions to GNSS are now a daily occurrence, and are pervasive in the aviation and maritime sector.” The collaboration aims to raise awareness and promote best practices to protect critical infrastructure from these vulnerabilities.

With the increasing recognition of vulnerabilities to GNSS jamming and spoofing within key sectors, the new framework is poised to provide substantial benefits. The initiative not only aims to safeguard the UK’s critical infrastructure but also positions the nation as a leader in PNT resilience testing services on a global scale. This strategic move will enhance the UK’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving landscape of PNT solutions.

Spirent Communications’ partnership with the European Space Agency marks a significant step toward bolstering the resilience of critical national infrastructure through improved PNT systems. As the reliance on satellite-based navigation grows, the need for robust frameworks and collaborative efforts becomes increasingly vital. This initiative not only aims to protect the UK economy from potential disruptions but also establishes the country as a pioneer in PNT resilience, inspiring other nations to follow suit.

For additional details about the PNT Resilience initiative, visit Spirent's official website.