STARGATE: System for Trusted And Reliable Galileo Authenticated Time Ecosystem is an EUSPA-funded project developing a next-generation Galileo Timing Receiver for critical infrastructure applications. The project focuses on the design, validation and demonstration of a receiver compliant with the new CEN/CENELEC EN 16605:2024 standard, which defines functional and performance requirements for Galileo timing receivers.

Precise and reliable time is essential for modern infrastructure. Telecommunications networks, energy grids, financial systems, data centres and transport systems all depend on accurate synchronisation to operate safely and efficiently. Any loss, degradation or manipulation of GNSS timing can affect service continuity, security and resilience.

STARGATE addresses this challenge by advancing the use of Galileo as a trusted timing source. The project will develop a dual-frequency Galileo timing receiver capable of processing Galileo Timing Service information and supporting key resilience features such as authentication, integrity monitoring and protection against degraded signal conditions.

The receiver will be designed to support the requirements of demanding timing and synchronisation users. This includes the use of Galileo dual-frequency signals, Timing Service Message processing, Open Service Navigation Message Authentication, T-RAIM integrity monitoring and robust behaviour under interference or signal disruption scenarios.

Beyond receiver development, STARGATE includes a complete validation and demonstration chain. The project will define the receiver requirements, develop the receiver hardware and software, prepare a dedicated test plan, validate compliance with EN 16605, and integrate the receiver into an end-user timing system. A demonstration kit will be produced to show the solution in a representative operational environment.

The project brings together complementary expertise across the timing value chain. Septentrio leads the Galileo timing receiver development, GUIDE-GNSS contributes specialised GNSS testing capabilities, ZN Consulting supports market and dissemination activities, and Safran Electronics & Defense Spain coordinates the project and leads the system integration, testing and demonstration activities.

Safran’s contribution focuses on turning the Galileo timing receiver into a deployable timing solution. Safran coordinates the project, supports the definition of user and receiver requirements, leads the validation strategy, upgrades the GNSS simulation environment for Galileo Timing Service scenarios, and integrates the receiver into a Safran timing server demonstrator. This work will help demonstrate how trusted Galileo time can be distributed to critical infrastructure through high-performance timing systems.

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This project has received funding from the European Union Agency for the Space Programme under Grant Agreement No. 313140. Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EUSPA. Neither the European Union nor EUSPA can be held responsible for them.