ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10075
Open Date: 07/10/2019
Closing Date: 22/11/2019 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 19.154.17
Prog. Ref.: NAVISP Element 1
Budget Ref.: E/0365-10 – NAVISP Element 1
Special Prov.: AT+BE+CZ+DE+DK+FI+FR+NO+RO+CH+GB+NL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Ground Segment / Ground Station / F&T equipment / Time Generation and Synchronisation equipment
Technology Domains: RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Technologies and Equipment / Time and Frequency
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Navigation
Department: Strategy and Programme Department
Division: NAVISP Programme Office
Contract Officer: Papaioannou, Maria
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 07/10/2019
Update Reason: Tender issue

This REISSUED EXPRO+ procurement is part of the NAVISP Programme, under Elelment 1, Work Plan 2018.Secure and reliable time transfer is a key enabler for the next generation of wireless communications, positioning and navigation services worldwide. A number of different applications such as 5G mobile broadband, power grids, terrestrial positioning services and financial operations will require accurate, secure and reliable time information to be able to work consistently and efficiently. The time information will need to be transferred not only securely, but also in a seamless and ubiquitous manner. The most accurate and ubiquitous time transfer is currently realised through GNSS, and allows absolute time dissemination, however, with GNSS suffers from a number of limitations such as those related to intentional and non-intentional interference and possible signal blockage in difficult environments. Terrestrial methods such as Precise Time Protocol (PTP) are not absolute and less accurate but not affected by limitations of GNSS. Hence, the objective of the proposed activity is to develop innovative effective methods of time dissemination, time transfer and synchronisation, combining strengths of GNSS and terrestrial technologies. In order to enable an overall seamless provision of secure, ubiquitous and reliable time information, solutions to complement the current GNSS time transfer techniques with the emerging fixed and mobile services (e.g. 5G enhanced mobile broadband including new frequency bands, device-to-device and vehicle-to-vehicle/any, autonomous vehicles, terrestrial positioning methods, …) will be assessed.