Tag: Focus Telecom

Portable Time-Loader ready for field deployment

Image: Focus Telecom

Focus Telecom has introduced a new timing product for defense and mission-critical applications, the Time-Loader.

The Time-Loader can be deployed in environments where GNSS signals are denied or disrupted, to support any ground, naval and airborne system that needs real time of day (TOD) and 1PPS external synchronization aligned to UTC or GNSS.

In this emerging era of rapid tactical deployment of defense systems, communications intelligence, missile defense systems, radar/electro-optical sensors and UAS batteries in the field are often in GNSS-denied or jammed environments. This situation creates challenges for access to real time and accurate time of day.

To solve this problem, the Time-Loader generates a GPS L1 C/A code RF output as if the signal were coming from a live-sky GPS antenna. It provides full-constellation GPS output and is compatible with external GNSS receivers. It encodes times with nanosecond accuracy for GPS timing receivers.

The Time-Loader’s GPS-disciplined oscillator (GPSDO) is the Microsemi MAC-SA53/55, which provides excellent UTC accuracy with outstanding hold-over rubidium clock performance.

The Time-Loader is the size of a suitcase, hand-carried and easily deployed. It activates quickly from a cold start or when sensors are deployed for the first time.

Included in the Time-Loader is a self-contained, miniature GPS simulator that provides real-time extremely accurate signals. The 18-channel full-constellation simulator stores location/time/date data in internal memory and stores complex vector data to simulate dynamic scenarios. The simulator also can be used to transcode NMEA or SCPI position/velocity/time (PVT) data into GPS RF signals.

Learn more about the Time-Loader.

August 8, 2022
Focus Telecom’s GPS Resilient Kit protects against timing threats

Photo: Focus Telecom

Focus Telecom has installed its GPS Resilient Kit (GRK) cyber protection system in the national time systems of the State of Israel at the National Physics Laboratory in Jerusalem.

“A cyber protection system like the one installed in the National Laboratory, as well as many other systems we have developed to protect critical infrastructure, enable our customers to deal with the growing global threat and ensure the function of GPS-based systems, on which their business activity is based — even under jamming and spoofing attacks of various kinds,” said Shlomi Mazor, vice president of sales, Focus Telecom.

The company has developed a holistic model made up of several layers that can protect a GPS-based organization, according to the company.

Focus Telecom has been a leader in the field of synchronization and atomic clocks since 1995, and serves as Israel’s national timekeeper.

The company’s technology can detect an attack on an organization’s time sources, neutralize the threat of intrusion into the organization, provide alternative time from a secure highly accurate source, and protect internal organizational time distribution through a fiber-optic protection system through which time protocols are transmitted. It provides alerts for spoofing or jamming attacks as they happen.

Focus Telecom provides solutions in several layers, including secure NTP/PTP time servers, grandmaster atomic clocks, and radio frequency firewalls. These are protected by an active protection system that can detect and neutralize disruptions before they reach timing servers, and by additional technological solutions that provide effective protection against threats.

Focus Telecom cites recent jamming and spoofing incidents as highlighting the need for protection. For instance, pilots reported disruptions of GPS signals in June 2019, making it difficult to access Ben Gurion Airport. These disruptions resumed in January 2022 and pose a renewed challenge to pilots.

In a May 2021 incident, farmers on the northern border and in the Gaza Envelope reported disruptions affecting the GPS-based guidance system installed in tractors used for sowing and harvesting.

Focus Telecom’s systems are successfully integrated into the Israel Defense Forces, defense industries, financial institutions, communications companies, and Israel’s transportation, electricity and water infrastructure.

Learn more about cyber threats on the company’s website.

June 1, 2022
InfiniDome provides GPS monitoring and Protection Solution to Israel Railways

A train arrives at Tel Aviv University Station on the Israeli Railway in Tel Aviv. (Photo: svarshik/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

InfiniDome Ltd., a GPS security company, is joining with with Israeli partner Focus Telecom, in a new country-wide project with Israel Railways. The project involves deployment by Focus Telecom of GPS repeaters at more than 30 railway stations across Israel, providing accurate, location-based service indoors at all locations for a new Israel Railways ticketing app.

A critical component of the project is a monitoring service that detects and provides alerts of any GPS disruption or interference in real time, as they are identified. This is facilitated by infiniDome’s IoT GPSensors and its cloud-based GPS monitoring service, infiniCloud.

“Incorporating infiniDome’s proven resilient PNT capability to monitor and protect such a critical GPS service is a necessary enhancement for government designated critical infrastructures,” said Ehud Sharar, Focus Telecom CEO.

Photo: Focus Telecom

InfiniDome’s monitoring technology for critical assets detects and alerts operators of threats and disruptions of the essential GPS signals. These threats can originate from both malicious or natural causes.

“GPSensor IoT technology combined with our infiniCloud GPS security cloud assures real-time alerts about jamming attacks. All GPS signal data and its assured integrity are available as real time data so Israel Railways can react immediately and reduce downtime of the network,” said Omer Sharar, infiniDome CEO.

Israel Railways is the cornerstone of Israeli critical infrastructure. In 2018, Israel National Railway carried 68 million passengers. This same infiniDome GPS monitoring and protection technology is now available to defend critical infrastructure assets worldwide.

March 18, 2021
Focus Telecom installs GPSdome to protect Israel’s ‘national clock’

Photo: InifiDome

The national time system at Israel’s National Physics Laboratory (INPL) in Jerusalem is now protected by a GPSdome unit for cyber protection of GPS/GNSS signals, according to Israel’s Homeland Security, a private company established in 2012.

Microchip partner Focus Telecom installed the GPSdome cyber protection system under a support and maintenance contract. GPSdome was developed by infiniDome, an Israeli startup.

INPL’s Nadya Goldovsky will now test and measure the system for its ability to protect the GPS/GNSS satellite signals from jamming and other interference. Over the course of several months, Goldovsky will test the system’s ability to protect its four independent atomic clocks, which continuously supply Israel’s national time.

The cyber protection system is designed to enable continuous, uninterrupted GPS/GNSS service, which allows for full operation of the clocks. During a GPS cyber-attack, infiniDome’s Communication Module will report it to infiniDome’s Cyber Security Cloud.

“GPSdome is a cyber protection system developed based on military technologies and principals which was adapted to non-military, commercial use,” said Omer Sharar, infiniDome’s CEO. “Our systems are already deployed and operational in Israel at multiple sites in the defense/HLS sector, border protection, financial sector and telecom sector.”

The company has signed a global distribution contract with an international PNT solution provider to sell its GPSdome systems in more than 120 countries, Sharar said.

May 22, 2020