A More Gradual Independence Day
Last week, America celebrated the 248th anniversary of a Dear John letter to the world's reigning Empire.
But the consequence of that very public Declaration of Independence is well known: a bloody struggle followed by the challenges of creating a new country. The lesson from this, and other revolutions, is a lesson that many a college student has learned: it is easier to claim independence while still getting support from home.
This is also the philosophy adopted by a wave of countries seeking to break free from America's Global Positioning System (GPS).
GPS is the gold standard for many reasons: it was the world's first global navigation satellite system (GNSS), it is well designed and well-maintained (to the tune of $5M a day), and, most importantly, it is freely available.
Because of this it has become a critical foundation for our modern life and an engine for economic growth, spawning $2T in economic benefit, 6 billion receivers, and 800 companies.
So, why bother building a competing GNSS when the service is free?
Because dependence comes at a cost (see below).
It is well known that GPS' widespread availability and weak signal make it easy to disrupt, which has spurred new GNSS developments in Europe (Galileo), China (BeiDou), Russia (GLONASS), Japan (QZSS), India (IRNSS), UK, Korea (KASS), and Africa (ANGA), as well as commercial solutions.
Independence from GPS is coming, and no declaration is required.

Last Week's Theme: The Hierarchy of Needs for the Digital World

• Received news that Colorado was designated as a Quantum Tech Hub by the US Department Of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency (EDA). Proud to be part of the impressive Elevate Quantum team that brought home this designation!
• Preparing for a Progress Review for an active project that kicked off in January.
• In the final phase of negotiations on two new contracts for funded projects that help develop our commercial quantum timing system.
• Working with separate teams that were selected for three projects that incorporate our quantum and PNT capabilities.
• Attended the SpaceWERX Alt PNT Showcase.
• Setting up a new office in Lafayette, Colorado, with plans for an Open House this Fall.
• Working with our quantum and timing and sync partners on new designs and demonstrations.

• A Wall Street Journal article claimed that Russia "is learning how to defeat Western precision munitions in Ukraine," noting that even though GPS-guided munitions worked early in the conflict, "the Russian army started to adapt, using its formidable electronic warfare capabilities" until they "became essentially useless and are no longer employed."
• Another report claims that, out of over 500 UK Royal Air Force (RAF) flights in the first three months of 2024, 142 RAF were subject to GPS jamming and "of those, 60 saw repeated jamming attempts – equating to one in eight flights." Some claim that this jamming is caused by Russia "which is believed to have established two powerful electronic warfare centers in Syria and Kaliningrad."
• US State Department officials issued a warning to communication companies, including Google and Meta, that their trans-Pacific fiber cables "could be vulnerable to tampering by Chinese repair ships."
• The US Department of Energy (DoE) unveiled an Office of Critical and Emerging Technology to maintain “U.S. leadership in critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, quantum, and microelectronics are key to enabling economic prosperity and our national security.”

• SPIE Optics + Photonics 2024, August 18 - 22, San Diego, California
• Navy Gold Coast, August 19 - 21, San Diego, California
• Quantum World Congress 2024, September 9 - 11, Tysons, Virginia
• ION GNSS+ 2024, September 16 - 20, Baltimore, Maryland
• ESA Industry Space Days, September 18 - 19, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
• World Space Business Week, September 16 - 20, Paris, France
• ISPCS 2024, October 7 - 11, Tokyo, Japan
• 2024 OCP Global Summit, October 15–17, San Jose, California
• IQT Quantum+AI, October 29 - 30, New York, New York
• International Timing and Sync Forum 2024, November 4 - 7, Seville, Spain
• UK PNT Leadership Seminar, November 20, London, UK
• UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase, November, London, UK
• Q2B24 Silicon Valley, December 10-12, Santa Clara, California

For nearly three decades, GPS has been a critical resource for the world's commercial infrastructure. But the original, and primary, user remains the US military. And other countries recognize that they have access to an off switch.
Russia was the first to develop their sovereign GNSS, GLONASS, at the height of the Cold War.
Europe was pushed to develop Galileo "that the US could not easily turn off in times of political conflict."
India’s GNSS development was triggered by “US denial of GPS during the Kargil Conflict in 1999.”
China recalled their “Unforgettable Humiliation” as an incentive to build to BeiDou.
Only operational since 2020, the BeiDou constellation is now the world’s largest GNSS, is more accurate than GPS, and has demonstrated optical links and Global Short Message Communication and Search-and-Rescue Services.
Some US officials believe that GPS is “now substantially inferior" to BeiDou, and while China continues to invest "heavily in their GNSS systems" the US "is only making modest improvements to GPS."
But the larger concern isn't just the technical advancements, but that China is flipping the script and using BeiDou as “a soft power tool."