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A growing flood of signals will soon hamper global positioning – the UN urges member states to safeguard observations important for positioning, which are also made in Finland

Reliable satellite positioning will become more difficult if VLBI observations obtained from radio telescopes, which are important for functional positioning, are not safeguarded from unintentional disruptive signals. The United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) raised the issue at its meeting in New York in August with a call to action for member states to address it. Finland was represented at the meeting by the National Land Survey of Finland. Finland also strongly supports the UN’s efforts to ensure the reliability of satellite positioning and reduce interference.

Metsähovin radioteleskooppi 2022

Many activities critical to society, such as rescue services, power grids and stock exchanges, require satellite positioning to function properly. However, the ever-increasing number of radio signals from several sources, such as everyday wireless technology, poses a problem for positioning. The resulting flood of signals interferes with radio telescope observations, i.e. Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations, which are important for positioning. VLBI observations determine the orientation of the Earth below the satellites. Positioning will not work without this data.

The global challenges in positioning were the topic of the UN-GGIM’s session on 6–8 August. The UN highlighted its call for action on member states to safeguard interference-free VLBI measurements necessary for positioning.  

- Finland strongly supports the UN initiative. Geospatial data is widely utilised in Finland and globally. Safeguarding the geospatial data and positioning needed by society is one of the important task of the NLS, says Professor Hannu Koivula from the National Land Survey of Finland.  

- By keeping the Metsähovi research station in Finland up to date and through international cooperation, we can ensure reliable basic prerequisites for positioning.

The cornerstone of satellite positioning in Finland is the Metsähovi Geodetic Research Station  

In Finland, reliable geospatial data and positioning are based on the Metsähovi Geodetic Research Station in Kirkkonummi, which is managed by the National Land Survey of Finland. With the help of observations made at Metsähovi, the NLS ensures that the positioning services needed by society remain functional. 

For flawless positioning, satellites orbiting the Earth require observations provided by VLBI radio telescopes around the globe. In Finland, they are provided by a radio telescope located at Metsähovi.  

The UN’s goal of safeguarding the observations required by radio telescopes from other signals is timely, as at the current rate, the increasing number of signals will seriously complicate positioning in the coming years. The aim is to get the member states’ backing for the safeguarding of the VLBI spectrum at the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) organised by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2027, where the member states can update the rules governing the sector.  

Morel information  
UN report on safeguarding VLBI radio frequencies

Professor Hannu Koivula, Finnish Geospatial Research Institute of the National Land Survey of Finland, +358 29 531 4787 
firstname.lastname@nls.fi

Research
Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI)
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