WASHINGTON — Satellite communications company OneWeb has introduced a new positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) service amid global concerns about GPS's vulnerability to interference and jamming in critical sectors such as defense, aviation and emergency services.
The service, called Astra, aims to ensure uninterrupted communications for OneWeb. satellite broadband customers, even when GPS or other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) signals are unavailable or compromised.
The system uses a software-defined external receiver capable of accessing PNT signals from both GNSS and alternative PNT broadcast services, such as Iridium satellites.
By identifying an alternative PNT source, Astra generates an output signal compatible with the standard GPS L1 interface, the company said. The service offers different versions for the U.S. government and allied governments.
Kevin Steen, president and CEO of Eutelsat America Corp. and OneWeb Technologies, said Astra is “a game-changer for defense users operating in harsh environments.”
Satellite operator Eutelsat merged with OneWeb in 2023.
OneWeb has been chasing PNT capabilities for several years. In 2023, The company collaborated with the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to develop PNT technologies as part of its second-generation satellite constellation. The UK government has shown particular interest in this initiative as a possible alternative to the EU’s Galileo navigation system, access to which was restricted following Brexit.
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