Rolling Out OSNMA for the secure synchronization of Telecom networks

The study of critical dependancies upon GNSS-derived time and position identifies telecomunications, emergency services, energy, finance, food and transport as the sectors where GNSS plays a key role. GNSS is used as a timing source for the synchronization of various types of network and has been recently dened as the backbone of the connected world and also the invisible utility. Some of these networks are classied as critical infrastructures and, together with other service infrastructures, pose security-related requirements on top of timing accuracy requirements.

ROOT (Rolling Out OSNMA for the secure synchronization of Telecom networks) project will assess the benefits introduced by the Galileo OSNMA signal in the specific context of telecommunication network synchronization applications. It will estimate the increased resiliance brough by OSNMA to GNSS-based timing sources. ROOT will consider the requirements, such as accuracy, tollerance to timing outages, etc., posed by the 5G playground to guarantee the expected perfomance. ROOT will follow an experimental approach to demonstrate and measure the increased level of robusteness provided by new multifrequency, OSNMA-ready Galileo receivers, when they slave multiple timing sources across the network. This will be combined to secure network synchronization distribution by means of Precision Time Protocol and its White Rabbit flavour; specific network-related Key Performance Indicators will be measured. ROOT will foster the adoption of Galileo signals featuring authentication mechanisms in terrestrial infrastructures dependant upon satellite-derived time.

ROOT partners cover the whole value chain for critical infrastructures: from research to manufacturers of GNSS and timing components, from networks operators to experts in market strategies, the partners complement each other in terms of knowledge and competences. They collectively constitute a consortium capable of fulfilling the project objectives.