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Iridium developed the new STL system with Satelles, a private
firm, to deliver signals using Iridium's 66 low-earth
satellites, making it less vulnerable than ground-based
terminals used for GPS services.
The Virginia-based company said the STL system gives users
access to accurate position, navigation and timing technology
using inexpensive chips that work anywhere on earth, providing
an alternative to GPS and a way to verify GPS signals.
"STL can help solve an important and growing problem for
governments and businesses, and serve as a platform for
continued innovation," Matt Desch, chief executive of Iridium,
said in a statement.
Satelles provides technology and services to companies that are
using the new capability to protect assets, authenticate users
and carry out other functions reliant on GPS time and location.
GPS jamming, "spoofing" and other attacks in recent years have
prompted the U.S. military and other users to look for ways to
augment and authenticate GPS signals.
South Korea, for instance, told the United Nations Security
Council last month that North Korea has been jamming its GPS
signals since March 31, threatening the safety of civilian
aircraft and vessels and violating international agreements.
Desch said the new technology used chips that were the size of a
postage stamp, and could ultimately be integrated into other
devices, heavy machinery, automobiles and the power grid.
The STL system transmits signals through Iridium's satellite
constellation to deliver a unique code to each position on the
ground that can be independently authenticated.
Iridium and Satelles said the new system had been demonstrated
in military, academic and commercial applications, but gave no
specific details.
Desch told Reuters in March that at least 20 military and
government agencies and private companies had expressed interest
in STL.
Iridium gave no immediate details on any launch customers for
the new service.
(Reporting by Berlin Newsroom; editing by Jason Neely)
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