World’s First GPS-Free PNT Network Demonstrated

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GPS is critical infrastructure, but it has its limitations. A new system will be able to serve as a backup to GPS and ensure the resilience and continuity of critical systems, including next-generation telecommunications networks, financial services, and power grids.

The new timing precision and resilience of a terrestrial Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system has been recently demonstrated In what was dubbed as an industry first.

The system was demonstrated by NextNav in an evaluation by the US Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  

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The trial tested the timing redundancy of the TerraPoiNT system in a number of scenarios, including instances of GPS outages, spoofing, and jamming. It validates TerraPoiNT’s capabilities as a terrestrial, GPS-free network capable of powering critical national infrastructure in the event of GPS failure.

During a simulated 72-hour GPS outage, the service was able to deliver a timing accuracy better than 50 nanosecond in urban and semi-urban environments, successfully meeting timing requirements for various applications including 5G networks, the synchronization of the power grid, and more. 

In addition, TerraPoiNT provided precise timing and redundancy utilizing two alternate absolute timing sources – atomic clock (Cesium/Rb) and LEO satellite (Satelles).

Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) evaluated 11 alternate PNT solutions, and chose TerraPoiNT as the best and only performing solution across all PNT categories, according to the company announcement.