VIAVI Solutions PNT-6200 Series Assured Reference

VIAVI Solutions has announced the PNT-6200 Series Assured Reference for resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). This solution is based on VIAVI’s acquisition of Jackson Labs Technologies in November 2022, and delivers critical security for PNT to communications service providers, network equipment manufacturers, government and military, and avionics markets.

As networks become dependent on disaggregated, cloud-native architectures, traditional methods of positioning and timing become less reliable. Concurrently, they are increasingly susceptible to threats of spoofing and jamming. GPS, the most widely used timing and geolocation system, uses low-power radio signals that are easily jammed or spoofed, often inadvertently. These issues can disrupt operations in a range of environments, from aircraft instrument landing systems to timing and synchronisation in mobile networks.

The assured reference provides resiliency for critical infrastructure dependent on positioning and timing. The compact system can supplement or even replace GPS signals based on connectivity to the broadest range of timing sources in the market, including low Earth orbit (LEO), GNSS, commercial satellite, terrestrial, wireline and atomic clock services. When plugged directly into the antenna port of the timing receiver, the series takes the timing signal from the most reliable source and converts it to a radio frequency (RF) signal as a direct replacement for the GPS input, seamlessly enabling continuous operation.

When installing 5G systems indoors via microcells, access to GPS for timing synchronisation and E911 positioning purposes becomes difficult or impossible, and placing an antenna on the roof of the building may not be feasible. With indoor reception, and fully GNSS-independent timing and positioning capability worldwide, the small form factor and diversity of signal sources enable the PNT-6200 Series to effectively address these challenges.