The European Space Agency Tender

Cellular Networks Have Various Built-in Security Features Including The Access Control, Mutual Authentication, And Key Management, Which Could Be Evolved To Provide Technological Enablers For Pvt Assurance. For Example, Although Gnss Serve An Unlimited Number Of Users With A Limited Amount Of Transmitting Stations, They Remain Prone To Spoofing Attacks Or Other Security Threats. An Efficient Solution Is The Use Of Symmetric Cryptographic Mechanisms To Render The Ranging Signal Unpredictable To The Potential Attacker. The Concept Requires Workarounds Such As Sophisticated Key Management Systems Or Frequent Rekeying For Scenarios In Which The Users Cannot Be Trusted. These Workarounds Could Be Facilitated By Cellular Networks Technologies. In Addition, Cellular Networks Themselves Have Become Relevant Sources Of Pnt, Using Unencrypted Signals. The Activity Will Study, Design, And Demonstrate The Use Of Cryptographic Information Securely Stored On The Sim Card For The Encryption Of Gnss Ranging Signals And The Provision Of Native Encryption Of Cellular Networks Pnt Signals To Support Pvt Assurance. The Activity Will Also Investigates The Feasibility Of Using Post-quantum Cryptography For The Aforementioned Security Solutions (e.g. Delivery Of Longer Cryptographic Keys By Cellular Networks).this Technological Advancement Holds Particular Significance For Use Cases Important For The International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea), Such As Outdoor Geolocation Surveys, In Situations Where The Navigations Signals Might Be Intentionally Or Unintentionally Tampered With. In The Subsequent Stages Of Their Collaboration, Esa And Iaea Plan To Establish An On-field Partnership Project To Further Develop And Validate A Tailored Pvt Assurance System, Specifically Designed To Support Iaea Safeguards Needs."