Arctic hackathon tests vulnerability of global satellite time signals
Engineers and scientists gathered on Norway's remote Andøya island to simulate attacks on satellite-based timing systems that underpin modern infrastructure.
Each year, a group of engineers, physicists and officials convenes on the Arctic island of Andøya for Jammertest, a public hackathon focused on satellite timing signals. Hosted by Norwegian authorities, the three-day camp tests both jamming and spoofing of GNSS, the backbone of power grids, telecommunications, financial markets and transport systems. Harald Hauglin, chief engineer for time and frequency metrology at the Norwegian Metrology Service, leads the "Aurora Borealis Hackers" team.
The exercise mirrors real incidents, including a RAF aircraft that experienced GPS jamming near Russia and daily interference noted by Sweden's transport agency. Unlike secretive U.S. military tests at White Sands, Jammertest is open, with results presented to government and industry representatives on the final evening. Organisers hope the drills will expose weaknesses before hostile actors can exploit them.
Why it matters
Disrupting satellite timing could cripple essential services worldwide, making its security a critical global concern.
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