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The UK has access to ‘open’ Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services, supplied through the...
Conclusion
The UK has access to ‘open’ Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services, supplied through the US GPS system and the EU Galileo system, meaning that most users are not affected by the UK leaving the Galileo programme. The UK currently relies on the US GPS system for its secure PNT services that can be used for defence and critical national infrastructure purposes. The reliance on foreign systems is concerning due to the potential for the UK to be blocked from using them in the future. Reliance on space-based systems is also not advisable as these can be disrupted through jamming attacks or adverse space weather. The loss of UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure 75 PNT services would be detrimental to the UK, with power distribution, financial transactions, and transport systems all seriously affected, and the UK’s national security put at severe risk. Although the UKSA, UKRI and BEIS, told us that work is underway to evaluate options for the UK’s approach to gaining access to resilient and secure PNT, we understand that a significant amount of work, using large amounts of public funds, has already been carried out but a strategy is yet to be published.
Paragraph Reference
41
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 30 March 2023. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.
Source
Report
Second Report - UK space strategy and UK satellite infrastructure
04 Nov 2022
HC 100
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age
3.9 yrs
Report published
04 Nov 2022