Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Lights out for Space Vehicle Number 23: UK smacked when US sat threw GPS out of whack

Decommissioning of elderly satellite gave UK biz that syncing feeling

An error in the Global Positioning System (GPS) network apparently triggered by the decommissioning of a US satellite last week has had knock-on effect across a number of UK industries, it has emerged.

Many industries are reliant on on GPS software for a swathe of critical applications such as financial trading and precision docking of oil tankers, as well as navigation.

However, last week the US Air Force said that a software error after the decommissioning of its 25-year-old Space Vehicle Number 23 satellite caused a co-ordinated universal time signal error of 13 microseconds. It said global users may have experienced GPS timing issues for several hours.

GPS jamming and interference detection company Chronos said it was receiving reports from industry sources that several other satellites were affected as a consequence.

The timing jump was first observed in GPS receivers by Metsähovi Radio Observatory in Finland, where its Hydrogen Maser atomic clock automatic monitoring system measured a discrepancy of 13 microseconds. Pic: Metsähovi Radio Observatory

Over the space of 12 hours after the event, the company said it had worked with a number of large telecoms providers dependent on GPS synchronisation to ensure continuity of service.

According to Chronos most of the errors were concentrated on systems from the UK Midlands down to the South East.

However, Chronos founder Charles Curry said: "This incident will have almost certainly had a broader impact across different sectors who have less resilient back-up."

He said it is aware of some more major impacts to networks and non-telecom applications. "But companies in the financial services sector, for example, aren't going to admit to it having caused any problems."

Because the effects of the GPS error only lasted for half a day, most companies were able to ensure their services remained synchronised through a backup system - most typically an atomic clock.

However, Curry said if the effects of the GPS error had lasted any longer then they would have lost synchronisation, causing mass service outages.

The BBC has confirmed that the decommissioning of the satellite had led to difficulties for listeners receiving digital radio signals. It is thought this is because it did not have an adequate backup system in place.

DAB transmitters must broadcast at exactly the same frequencies and, in order to synchronise, they lock on to GPS satellite signals, it reported.

Chronos said: "This event linked to SVN23 has been one of the most significant service affecting issues for GPS timing users."

Martyn Thomas, a fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering, agreed that the event ought to be a wake-up call. "This is a warning signal for some of the trouble that could come with so much of our economy dependent on GPS timing - such as financial trading, for example."

He said: "A more effective backup for GPS is desperately needed."

The Register has asked the US Air Force for more information. ®

 

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like