The National Standards Authority of Ireland’s National Metrology Laboratory (NSAI NML) has announced the launch of a verified GPS/GNSS Data Stream (VGDS) service, an extension to the National Timing Grid of Ireland.
This initiative developed in partnership with Timing Solutions, a NovaUCD and ESA BIC Ireland client company, marks a step forward in ensuring secure and reliable Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, vital for government organizations, 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.
David Fleming, NSAI Technical Manager for Time and 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.
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.”
By offering a verified stream of GNSS data, the VGDS service mitigates risks like jamming and spoofing, 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 will be 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.
