Adtran and Iridium strengthen PNT resilience in Europe and Asia-Pacific with Satellite Time and Location technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Adtran, in collaboration with Iridium Communications, has launched synchronization solutions with Iridium's Satellite Time and Location (STL) technology across Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. This initiative aims to counter growing threats to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) by providing secure, precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services via low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The OSA 5405-S PTP compact grandmaster clock and OSA 5400 STL module are key products now available, offering robust timing support for critical infrastructures like 5G networks and defense systems. STL services are significantly stronger and more resilient than traditional GNSS, ensuring continuous synchronization even in compromised environments. Adtran offers these services through flexible annual licenses or bundled equipment packages, catering to various financial planning needs.

Positive

• Adtran's new solutions enhance the resilience of 5G networks and defense systems.
• STL signals via LEO satellites are 1,000 times stronger than GNSS, ensuring continuous synchronization.
• Flexible purchasing models, including annual service licenses and long-term equipment bundles, cater to diverse financial planning needs.
• STL technology supports both indoor and challenging outdoor locations, reducing the need for rooftop antennas and installation costs.

Negative

• None.

Tech Expert

The integration of Iridium’s Satellite Time and Location (STL) services with Adtran’s synchronization solutions is a significant advancement in positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. The primary technical benefit here is the enhanced resilience and security provided by LEO satellites. Unlike GNSS, which can be easily disrupted or spoofed due to its weaker signals, STL utilizes encrypted signals that are 1,000 times stronger. This robustness makes STL services exceptionally reliable even in challenging environments, such as urban canyons and indoor locations, where GNSS signals often struggle.

This collaboration presents a substantial improvement for critical infrastructure like 5G networks and defense systems. The zero-trust architecture ensures multiple diverse sources of timing, enhancing overall network reliability. The two purchasing options (opex and capex models) show that Adtran is catering to various customer financial needs, making it more accessible and adaptable for different scales of operation.

For investors, this means Adtran and Iridium are positioning themselves as leaders in the secure PNT market, which is essential as global dependency on these systems increases. Long-term, this could lead to a steady revenue stream and increased market share, especially in areas vulnerable to GNSS threats.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, the timing of this launch capitalizes on growing concerns over GNSS vulnerabilities. The sectors targeted, including 5G, data centers, smart grids and defense, are all areas with high demand for reliable and secure PNT services. The potential customer base is substantial, ranging from mobile operators to defense agencies, offering a diverse revenue stream.

Moreover, offering STL services in both annual service licenses and bundled equipment packages shows a keen understanding of varied customer financial strategies. The annual service license provides flexibility for those needing adaptable budgeting, while the bundled packages facilitate long-term financial planning, spreading costs over multiple years, similar to traditional GNSS systems.

For investors, these strategic moves indicate a strong market understanding and a well-thought-out approach to customer acquisition. This adaptability can drive sustained growth across different market segments, positioning Adtran and Iridium as key players in the growing PNT market.

Financial Analyst

Looking at the financial implications, this partnership and product rollout represent a promising revenue opportunity for both Adtran and Iridium. By expanding their STL services into Europe and Asia-Pacific, they are tapping into regions with substantial market potential and increasing demand for secure and resilient PNT solutions. The dual purchasing models – annual service licenses and bundled equipment packages – could attract a wide range of clients, from smaller operators to large-scale defense systems, ensuring a diversified income stream.

Short-term, there might be increased costs associated with marketing and deploying the technology, but these should be offset by the long-term financial benefits. The ability to offer these solutions as both primary and backup sources of timing data enhances their market appeal. Furthermore, the strong signals from LEO satellites provide a competitive edge over traditional GNSS, likely leading to increased adoption and customer loyalty.

For retail investors, this news suggests potential for substantial growth and profitability, making Adtran and Iridium attractive investments in the technology and defense sectors.

News summary:

• As cyber threats to GNSS grow, network operators are turning to alternative sources of positioning, navigation and timing data
• Adtran’s Oscilloquartz solutions now support Iridium^® STL services as part of a zero-trust architecture, delivering precise, secure timing via low-Earth orbit satellites
• Customers from 5G mobile operators to the defense sector can select STL services to ensure ultimate defense against GNSS vulnerabilities

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Adtran, in partnership with Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM), today announced the European and Asia-Pacific launch of its synchronization solutions featuring Iridium^® Satellite Time and Location (STL) technology, a significant step in countering growing threats to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Adtran’s OSA 5405-S PTP compact grandmaster clock with STL capabilities and its OSA 5400 STL module are now available to timing network operators in Western Europe, major countries in Eastern Europe, Turkey, and parts of Asia-Pacific, including the majority of Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea. The solutions enhance the resilience and reliability of critical infrastructure, such as 5G networks, defense systems and many more. Leveraging low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver precise and secure positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services, the devices ensure continuous synchronization even in environments where GNSS is compromised. As a certified Iridium partner, Adtran offers the technology through two distinct purchasing options: an annual service license for optimal flexibility or bundled with equipment for long-term financial planning.

Adtran’s synchronization solution featuring Iridium® STL services will bring new levels of PNT security to Europe and Asia-Pacific. (Photo: Business Wire)

“The weakness of GNSS signals is increasingly being exploited to create serious problems. As Europe, APAC and the rest of the world have become more dependent on PNT data, attacks on GNSS have only escalated, creating an urgent need to pivot away from the exclusive use of these satellites,” said Michael O’Connor, executive vice president of PNT at Iridium. “By integrating our STL service into Adtran Oscilloquartz devices and making it available across much of Europe and key areas of APAC, we’re providing network operators with valuable new options. They can choose to use our solution as a primary source of timing data in indoor environments, or they can leverage our secure, high-strength LEO signals as a backup source of PNT information when GNSS is unavailable. This offers the strongest ever safeguard against the threats that compromise so many aspects of our daily lives.”

Iridium^® STL services harness the power of LEO satellites to transmit encrypted signals that are 1,000 times stronger than those of GNSS, significantly reducing vulnerability to disruptions and manipulation. The technology excels in challenging environments like urban canyons and indoor areas and can penetrate deep into buildings without the need for rooftop antennas. STL services are now a key feature of Adtran’s Oscilloquartz product lineup. The versatile OSA 5405-S PTP grandmaster clock supports STL time services and multi-constellation GNSS, as well as various other timing sources, all within a zero-trust architecture that leverages multiple diverse timing sources for enhanced resilience. Additionally, the OSA 5400 STL module extends these advanced STL/GNSS receiver capabilities to third-party equipment requiring timing, enabling precise, robust synchronization for a wide range of applications.

“We partnered with Iridium to bring the benefits of its STL services to critical timing infrastructure around the world because we share a common goal. We’re committed to making PNT networks as resilient and secure as possible. STL is a powerful solution for fortifying zero-trust architecture and ensuring reliable PNT even when GPS signals fail, making it ideal for both indoor and challenging outdoor locations. By empowering operators of mission-critical networks to access reliable timing in the most demanding environments, we’re also eliminating the need to install outdoor antennas and core through concrete, significantly reducing expenses,” commented Gil Biran, GM of Oscilloquartz, Adtran. “We’re excited to bring these advantages to so many more customers across Europe and APAC. Today’s announcement marks a significant advancement for the network operators and people of these regions, whose daily lives increasingly depend on robust PNT.”

Adtran is making STL services readily available in ways that perfectly align with the evolving needs of modern network infrastructures, offering two purchasing models designed to maximize operational flexibility and support financial planning. The ‘opex model’ provides an annual service license, which is ideal for operators that need adaptable yearly budgeting. Conversely, the ‘capex model’ bundles STL services with essential equipment for 3, 5 or 10 years, facilitating cost amortization similar to traditional GNSS systems. These options make the benefits of LEO satellite signals – whether as a robust primary timing source or a highly reliable backup to GNSS – accessible to sectors where reliable and secure PNT is paramount, including 5G, data centers, smart grids and defense.

About Adtran

ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN and FSE: QH9) is the parent company of Adtran, Inc., a leading global provider of open, disaggregated networking and communications solutions that enable voice, data, video and internet communications across any network infrastructure. From the cloud edge to the subscriber edge, Adtran empowers communications service providers around the world to manage and scale services that connect people, places and things. Adtran solutions are used by service providers, private enterprises, government organizations and millions of individual users worldwide. ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. is also the largest shareholder of Adtran Networks SE, formerly ADVA Optical Networking SE. Find more at Adtran, LinkedIn and X.

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ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. 
www.adtran.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240624939927/en/

For media

Gareth Spence

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Source: Adtran

FAQ

What new service has Adtran launched in Europe and Asia-Pacific?

Adtran has launched synchronization solutions featuring Iridium's Satellite Time and Location (STL) technology.

How does Adtran's new STL technology benefit network operators?

Adtran's STL technology provides secure, precise PNT services via LEO satellites, significantly enhancing resilience against GNSS threats.

What regions are covered by Adtran's new STL services?

Adtran's STL services are available in Western and Eastern Europe, Turkey, Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea.

What are the purchasing options for Adtran's STL services?

Adtran offers STL services through an annual service license or bundled with equipment for 3, 5, or 10 years.

What sectors can benefit from Adtran's STL services?

Sectors such as 5G, defense, data centers, and smart grids can benefit from Adtran's STL services.