U.N. agencies call for global action against GNSS interference

GENEVA -  Three United Nations agencies - International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the , and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) - have issued a joint call for global action to combat harmful interference affecting satellite navigation systems critical to aviation, maritime, and telecommunications operations.

Citing a growing number of incidents involving jamming and spoofing of the Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS), the agencies urged their member states to take immediate steps to safeguard the integrity of navigation, positioning, and timing signals essential for civil and humanitarian purposes.

The agencies say jamming is an unnecessary transmission, or the transmission of superfluous signals, or the transmission of signals without identification, while spoofing is the broadcast of GNSS-like signals that can cause a GNSS receiver in a vessel or aircraft to calculate erroneous positions and provide false guidance," the agencies say. 

Interference dangers

"Harmful interference with satellite-based navigation poses a significant threat to aviation, maritime safety, and essential telecommunications networks," the statement warned. The agencies emphasized the importance of protecting RNSS signals from disruptions that could degrade or mislead navigation systems used by aircraft, ships, and emergency response vehicles.

Related: The dangerous rise of GPS attacks

The statement outlined key recommendations, including enhancing the resilience of systems dependent on RNSS, maintaining backup conventional navigation infrastructure, and developing mitigation techniques for potential service losses. It also called for increased coordination among regulatory, civil aviation, maritime, and defense authorities to address interference threats.

Additionally, the agencies urged member states to report interference cases to relevant authorities and the ITU Radiocommunications Bureau to facilitate monitoring and mitigation efforts.

The statement builds on existing international regulations, including ITU Radio Regulations and ICAO and IMO standards, which stress the need for robust protection against interference in safety-critical communication and navigation systems.