European efforts to strengthen positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) are increasingly focusing on timing, the least celebrated yet foundational element of the triad.
One effort that has shaped this space originated at Seven Solutions, which developed GNSS-independent timing and synchronization technologies based on signals of opportunity and terrestrial radio-frequency environments.
Founded in Spain in 2019, Seven Solutions is not entirely new to European PNT circles, having participated in the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s 2021-2022 alternative-PNT evaluation initiative. Seven Solutions and its timing technology are now integrated into Orolia’s resilient PNT portfolio within Safran Electronics and Defense, following the 2023 acquisition.
The Seven Solutions team continues to engage with European stakeholders through technical workshops, pilot activities, and participation in collaborative research. Much of this activity has taken place within EU-supported programs focused on synchronization, network resilience, and critical-infrastructure protection, emphasizing validation in operational environments rather than laboratory demonstrations alone.
The work begun at Seven Solutions has focused on maintaining trusted time when GNSS signals are degraded, denied, or spoofed. Instead of requiring new infrastructure, the approach exploits existing RF signals, including broadcast transmissions, cellular networks, and other ambient emissions, to transfer, verify, and keep time. This software-defined capability is intended to complement, not replace, GNSS, adding resilience at the timing layer of the broader PNT stack.
Standing for independence
Accurate and resilient timing underpins a growing range of applications, where even brief disruptions can cascade into significant operational impacts, making continued dependence on a single timing source no longer acceptable.
Seven Solutions technology aligns closely with Europe’s strategic interest in PNT sovereignty. By using only home grown software and leveraging signals already present within national borders, the approach reduces dependence on external systems and new spectrum allocations. It also offers a potentially scalable path to resilience without the cost, regulatory complexity, or long deployment timelines associated with new transmitters or constellations.
The technical challenge lies in extracting stable, traceable timing from signals never designed for that purpose. Variability, interference, and signal diversity demand sophisticated processing and continuous calibration. Advances in digital processing and data-driven techniques are now making this feasible for operational timing applications.
As unease over GNSS vulnerability continues to grow, the timing approach developed at Seven Solutions is strengthening an often overlooked strand of Europe’s alternative-PNT efforts. With pilot results maturing, that approach should draw closer and well-deserved attention from those shaping future European PNT architectures.
