Pulsar-0 Maps GPS Jamming From France to Pakistan, Cutting Signal Strength to 10 Decibels
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Jun 18
Pulsar-0 Maps GPS Jamming From France to Pakistan, Cutting Signal Strength to 10 Decibels
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Jun 18
Summary
GPS readings from Xona Space Systems' Pulsar-0 showed interference across Europe and the Middle East, with signal strength at 500 kilometers altitude falling from a normal 40 decibels to as low as 10 in the worst-hit zones.
The map indicates ground-based jammers can disrupt low Earth orbit satellites from France to Pakistan, not just aircraft and users on the ground, undermining positioning, timing and antenna pointing needed for satellite operations.
Xona linked the degradation to widespread jamming and spoofing used around Russia's western borders and in the Middle East, where interference already affects tens of thousands of flights each month.
The findings bolster Xona's pitch for its planned 300-satellite low Earth orbit navigation network, which it says will transmit signals 100 times stronger and shrink current jamming coverage to about 5% of today's affected area.
After raising $170 million in March, Xona plans to launch six satellites in October and target early 2027 for basic service, with initial timekeeping customers expected to start intermittent use by late 2026.
As private firms build a stronger GPS, will a new 'space race' for positioning dominance erupt in low Earth orbit?
With private companies controlling our location data, what is the ultimate price for a jam-proof world?
Global GPS Under Siege: Pulsar-0 Maps 75% Signal Drop and Xona’s Plan to Restore Navigation Integrity
Overview
Xona Space Systems has launched Pulsar-0, the first satellite dedicated to mapping GPS jamming and spoofing from space. Operating at about 500 kilometers above Earth, Pulsar-0 directly measures and maps GPS signal strength and degradation, offering an unprecedented global view of interference patterns. The mission quickly revealed that GPS signal disruption is both widespread and intense, with signal levels dropping from the expected 40 dB to as low as 10 dB. This severe degradation stretches from France to Pakistan, and Pulsar-0’s data highlights several hotspots where GPS jamming is especially prevalent and intense.