UN Agencies Call for Urgent Action Against Jamming and Spoofing of GNSS Systems

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Mfame Editor
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The United Nations agencies ITU (International Telecommunication Union), ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), and IMO (International Maritime Organization) have jointly expressed “grave concern” regarding the escalating problem of jamming and spoofing of satellite navigation systems. This indicates a significant threat to the safety and reliability of navigation in the aviation and maritime sectors, reports Safety4sea. 

Joint Statement

A joint statement released on March 17th by UN agencies highlights the growing concern over interference with satellite telecommunications, specifically affecting aviation, maritime, and other sectors. The statement outlines several urgent actions needed by states to protect a critical radio-frequency band:

  • Protect RNSS:
    • States must safeguard Radio Navigation Satellite Systems (RNSS) from transmissions that cause harmful interference.
    • This interference can degrade, interrupt, or mislead signals used for civilian and humanitarian purposes.
  • Reinforce Resilience:
    • States should strengthen the resilience of systems that rely on RNSS for navigation, positioning, and timing to withstand interference.
  • Maintain Conventional Navigation:
    • States need to retain sufficient conventional navigation infrastructure to serve as a backup in case of RNSS outages or misleading signals.
    • They should also develop mitigation techniques to address service losses.
  • Increase Collaboration:
    • Enhanced collaboration is required among radio regulatory, civil aviation, maritime, defense, and enforcement authorities.
  • Report Interference:
    • States must report incidents of harmful interference affecting RNSS to the relevant telecommunication, aeronautical, and maritime authorities, as well as to the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau.
    • This reporting is crucial for monitoring the situation.

IMO Recommendations

GNSS Importance for Maritime:

  • Ships and ports heavily depend on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for various functions, including determining position and speed, and synchronizing precise global and local time.
  • These systems are particularly crucial for navigation and are essential components of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

SOLAS Requirement:

  • The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) mandates that all ships, regardless of size, must have a system capable of automatically determining and updating their position.
  • This can be achieved using a GNSS receiver, a land-based radio navigation system, or other suitable means, ensuring continuous position determination throughout the voyage.

IMO Recommendations:

  • The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee has issued a circular (MSC.1/Circ.1644) urging member states to take several actions.
  • These actions include minimizing interference originating from their territories, as required by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations.
  • Member states are also encouraged to issue warnings to mariners about known interference periods and areas, to reduce the impact on maritime operations.
  • Finally, they are advised to implement measures to prevent unauthorized transmissions on recognized satellite navigation system frequencies.

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Source: Safety4sea