Serious disruption of the GPS signal over Poland. We don’t know what’s going on

According to the data presented by the specialist, large tracts of land in Poland are struggling with problems in receiving the GPS signal. The data presented on the map indicate that a high level of disturbances (above 10%) is recorded mainly over the southern Baltic Sea and in a large part of northern Poland, but in places it reaches as far as the northern edges of the Silesian and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships. There are also medium disruptions in the central part of the country (ranging from 2 to 10%), although part of the area (e.g. Tricity or Elbląg) is marked in green (less than 2%).

GPS interference over northern Poland. What do they result from? Still unknown

The problem is that it is not clear what could be the reason for the disruption in GPS signal reception, which is present over such a huge part of Poland. The industry expert noted that the reason could probably be, for example, possible NATO military exercises. According to the NOTAM message (message for pilots regarding, among others, the condition of aviation equipment, changes in procedures or possible dangers), from December 25 to 27 in a similar area of ​​Poland there may be “anomalies” in the reception of the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signal. .

Portal with the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (the state air traffic management authority which, thanks to the Air Information Service, deals with the exchange of NOTAM messages). PANSA confirmed that it was noticing disruptions, but admitted that it did not know the “specific reasons” for their occurrence. The agency also assured that “where necessary”, PANSA uses its own infrastructure and “the situation does not pose a threat to air traffic.” In , Tomasz Modrzejewski, PANSA spokesman, confirmed that the message remains active and on Wednesday it was extended for another 24 hours.

Internet users, in turn, note that not only Poland is struggling with similar problems with the GPS signal. They also occur in eastern Belarus, in many areas in western Russia (including around Moscow, St. Petersburg and Volgograd) and in the south of the Black Sea, in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan and the Sinai Peninsula.

However, the area affected by disruptions over Poland is the largest, and disruptions of similar strength are unheard of in our part of Europe. Just 24 hours earlier, there were no problems with the GPS signal over Poland and the southern Baltic Sea. Moreover, according to data from the GPSJAM website, similar problems are currently not reported anywhere in the world.

We asked the Ministry of Digitization and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration about the causes of GPS signal interference. As soon as we receive a response, we will update the article.