Iridium Communications announced the release of a specialized microchip, which will be able to protect devices, that rely on GPS, from jamming and spoofing. The new Iridium PNT ASIC, measuring only 8×8 mm, will be embedded in smartphones, industrial systems, power grids and other equipment.
The chip will receive signals from 66 Iridium satellites in low orbit, providing more accurate and secure time and location data. The signal strength will be about a thousand times higher, than GPS, and the system itself will work even indoors, where ordinary satellite signals do not pass.
Iridium already provides such services through external receivers, but the new chip will allow the technology to be integrated without additional hardware. The company has started testing with partners, and the commercial launch is planned for the middle 2026 year.
The need for alternative protection is increasing due to frequent incidents of spoofing, in particular, cases of interference with the navigation systems of aircraft and ships. According to aviation organizations, кількість випадків підміни GPS-сигналів у цивільній авіації за останній рік зросла на 500%.
The creation of the microchip is also part of Iridium's long-term strategy amid growing competition from Starlink, which expands the range of its services. Analysts predict, that the market for alternative positioning systems, navigation and synchronization (PNT) to 2032 year will grow to $3,5 billion.
Source: https://spacenews.com