Technology company GMV is leading PRESENTIS (Public Regulated Service Network Time Solution), a European Union-funded initiative under the Horizon Europe programme aimed at enhancing the security and resilience of time synchronization systems used by critical infrastructure through the Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS).
As industries and public services become increasingly dependent on highly accurate timing information, ensuring operational continuity and protection against disruptions has become a strategic priority. PRESENTIS seeks to address these challenges by leveraging the advanced security capabilities offered by Galileo’s encrypted and government-authorized PRS service.
A Secure Navigation Service for Mission-Critical Environments
The project targets operational environments where uninterrupted access to reliable timing and navigation signals is essential. Unlike open GNSS services, Galileo PRS is specifically designed for authorized governmental users and provides enhanced protection against signal interference, disruption, and manipulation.
Key features of the service include controlled access, encrypted communications, high service availability, and strong resistance to jamming and spoofing attacks—two of the most significant threats facing satellite-based navigation and timing systems today.
Two Complementary Development Tracks
PRESENTIS focuses on two parallel and interconnected use cases.
The first involves the deployment of PRS-based network synchronization solutions for civilian applications that require highly reliable timing references. The second focuses on the secure integration of sensors and data through Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities enabled by Galileo PRS.
Developing both scenarios simultaneously will not only strengthen the project’s technical outcomes but also broaden the range of potential applications across multiple sectors.
Building on GMV’s Expertise in Precision Timing
The project’s primary objective is to integrate the robustness of Galileo PRS into some of the most demanding timing synchronization environments.
GMV and the industrial consortium participating in PRESENTIS bring extensive experience in advanced timing technologies, gained through previous projects carried out for the European Space Agency (ESA), major scientific infrastructures, and internationally recognized timing laboratories.
This expertise provides a strong foundation for developing resilient solutions capable of operating under challenging conditions while maintaining the high levels of accuracy required by critical systems.
Enhancing WANTime with Galileo PRS Capabilities
One of the central technological assets of the project is a fully operational PRS receiver jointly developed by GMV and CIPHERBIT.
The receiver will enable GMV to enhance WANTime, its time synchronization solution for critical networks, by incorporating the security and resilience features of Galileo PRS. As a result, the platform will be better equipped to maintain service availability and timing accuracy even in environments affected by interference or deliberate attacks.
In parallel, GMV will continue advancing its server-based PRS navigation architecture to expand its use as a secure timing source for WANTime. This approach will centralize cryptographic key management and allow devices without their own encryption credentials to benefit from PRS capabilities, significantly increasing deployment flexibility.
Mature Technologies for Real-World Applications
PRESENTIS builds on technologies with a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL), combining proven GMV products with the advanced capabilities of Galileo PRS to create a scalable and robust solution.
Beyond technological development, the project includes outreach, demonstration, and collaboration activities involving public and private stakeholders. These efforts aim to showcase how secure Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions can address real operational challenges across critical sectors.
Strengthening Europe’s Technological Sovereignty
Accurate time synchronization is often invisible to end users, yet it is fundamental to the operation of modern infrastructure. Telecommunications networks, data centers, power grids, transportation systems, emergency services, and large scientific facilities all rely on highly precise timing references to function effectively.
When synchronization is compromised, performance can degrade rapidly, leading to operational disruptions and increased security risks.
By integrating Galileo PRS into critical timing applications, PRESENTIS seeks to strengthen Europe’s capabilities in secure PNT technologies while promoting the adoption of the European satellite navigation system in strategic sectors.
The solutions developed within the project are expected to benefit industries including telecommunications, energy, transport, defense, public safety, emergency response, and scientific research infrastructure.
Through PRESENTIS, Europe takes another step toward enhancing its technological autonomy in a domain that is increasingly recognized as essential for national security, economic resilience, and the reliable operation of critical services.
