NextNav completes initial tests for 3D Position, Navigation and Timing service

NextNav has recently completed successful initial tests of its innovative 3D Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) service.

NextNav’s system utilises terrestrial transmitters and LTE/5G signals to provide precise and dependable 3D positioning and timing data (Photo: AdobeStock)

The solution combines NextNav’s reliable TerraPoiNT system with existing LTE and 5G network signals. The tests, conducted in and around San Jose, California, US, showcased the integration of TerraPoiNT signals with cellular infrastructure to deliver highly accurate 3D positioning and timing information without depending solely on traditional satellite-based GPS and GNSS signals.

NextNav’s system utilises terrestrial transmitters and LTE/5G signals to provide precise and dependable 3D positioning and timing data. It is said to complement GPS in areas where GPS signals might be unavailable, such as indoors, urban environments, or places with potential signal interference.

The company says that By integrating TerraPoiNT with LTE and 5G signals, NextNav offers a solution to scale resilient PNT capabilities in GPS-denied environments. This advancement opens up new possibilities for reliable positioning and timing services, addressing challenges in various scenarios and enhancing overall navigation experiences.

“Whether its utilities, banks, data centers, transportation, or emergency services, critical infrastructure today is reliant on GPS for position, navigation and timing services, making it highly vulnerable to GPS as a single point of failure” said Ganesh Pattabiraman, Co-Founder and CEO of NextNav.

“With this integration we have demonstrated a highly scalable and lower cost alternative - a 3D PNT solution which overcomes the vulnerabilities of GPS with a complementary ground based resilient PNT layer that extends PNT capabilities in urban and indoor environments .”