The initiative will enable Spirent and its partners to develop a comprehensive testing framework designed to drive measurable resilience in PNT systems for CNI users, operators, and providers in the UK.
The project, supported by Element 2 of ESA’s NAVISP (Navigation Innovation and Support Program), aims to improve awareness and assessment of PNT resilience by providing a method for evaluating, validating, and classifying PNT equipment and services used in critical infrastructure. According to the UK government’s 2023 report, The Economic Impact on the UK of a Disruption to GNSS, a seven-day GNSS disruption could cost the UK economy £7.6 billion, highlighting the importance of strengthening these systems, which are highly dependent on satellite technologies.
Mark Holbrow, Vice President of Engineering and Product Development at Spirent Positioning, highlighted that this initiative will enable critical infrastructure operators to measure, monitor, and improve their PNT resilience using specific technical tools and frameworks over the next three years.
The initiative will support the UK Government's Resilient PNT Strategy and will consist of three main components:
Spirent PNT Alliance: a collaboration between companies, universities, and government agencies to develop PNT resilience services for CNI;
PNT Shopfront: a showcase of solutions that facilitate resilient PNT adoption and regulatory compliance; and
PNT Resiliency Health Check: an independent assessment of GNSS equipment based on performance, resilience, and safety criteria.
The alliance will include the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) and other strategic partners to strengthen the PNT ecosystem in the UK. Annual assessments will identify vulnerabilities, understand dependencies, and measure progress against common technical standards.
Dr. Ramsey Faragher, director of the Royal Institute of Navigation, noted that intentional GNSS disruptions—such as jamming and spoofing—are becoming increasingly common, particularly in aviation and the maritime sector, reinforcing the need for rigorous testing and robust resilience standards.
Critical infrastructure operators in sectors such as finance, energy, and telecommunications will benefit from the new framework, which also positions the UK as an international leader in PNT resilience testing services.
