Cutting-Edge Timing Technology Protects Vital Services

A new cutting-edge timing network for the UK will help keep critical services like phone networks and bank transactions up and running, as the government launches a major programme designed to reduce reliance on satellite systems that underpin modern digital infrastructure.

The initiative, backed by £180m in funding, aims to ease the UK’s dependence on satellite services that provide highly precise timing signals but can be vulnerable to disruption. The investment will support the development of a new terrestrial timing signal that can act as a reliable backup for systems such as mobile phone networks, financial transactions and transport operations.

The programme will be delivered through the National Timing Centre (NTC) and led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK’s national metrology institute. Together they will develop new infrastructure capable of distributing accurate time signals across the country through multiple channels, including over-the-air broadcasts, internet connections and fibre networks.

The clocks and timing systems people rely on every day – underpinning phone networks and online banking services – will be better protected than ever thanks to the investment in the NTC. Accurate timekeeping plays a critical but often invisible role in modern society. From coordinating financial transactions to ensuring communication networks function smoothly, precise timing signals allow digital systems to operate reliably and securely.

Accurate timekeeping is fundamental to our daily lives – keeping our transport systems moving, allowing us to stay in touch with loved ones, and ensuring emergency services can get on the scene as quickly as possible. Currently, much of the UK’s digital infrastructure relies on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which beam ultra-accurate timing signals from space. However, these systems can be vulnerable to interference, including deliberate attacks, signal jamming and technical malfunctions.

Recent incidents linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine have highlighted these risks. Satellite signals have been deliberately disrupted in the region, with jamming attacks repeatedly interfering with civilian aircraft and other critical services.

Experts warn that a major disruption to satellite timing services could have serious economic consequences. An outage affecting the UK could cost the economy around £1.4bn in just 24 hours, according to government estimates.

Coinciding with the start of British Science Week, the National Timing Centre will now begin work on the new programme aimed at strengthening national resilience and protecting the economy from such disruptions. The network will distribute a resilient timing signal free over air, via internet and by fibre. When existing systems fail, the National Timing Centre will be there to support vital digital infrastructure.

Alongside improving resilience, the programme is also expected to strengthen the UK’s capabilities in precision timing – a field that underpins technologies ranging from communications networks to navigation systems. The funding will support training programmes designed to develop new expertise in the sector. Graduates and apprentices will gain opportunities to work in precision timing technologies, while longer-term plans include advanced PhD-level training. Officials say this will help ensure the UK maintains the skills needed to operate secure and reliable timekeeping systems in the future. The investment is also expected to help innovative British companies scale up their capabilities, contributing to economic growth and creating new high-skilled jobs across the country.

Science Minister Patrick Vallance, known as Lord Vallance, said the programme is about safeguarding the systems that keep the country running.

“Accurate timekeeping is about more than just keeping the clocks ticking, it is fundamental to keeping the country running – from banking and staying in touch with friends and family through to our emergency services having the information they need. The systems we rely on today are increasingly vulnerable to disruption, which is why we’re acting now to strengthen the infrastructure we rely on every day. This project will give us a safety net that will help protect our national security, safeguard our economy, and give people the confidence they need to go about their daily lives.”

The technology behind the new network will rely heavily on atomic clocks – some of the most precise timekeeping devices ever developed. Atomic clocks work by using the energy of atoms which allows them to produce and maintain an exceptionally accurate timing signal.

They already play a huge role across a range of critical services. For example, **5G mobile networks rely on atomic timing signals to coordinate communications between thousands of devices. By transmitting in precisely organised time slots, these networks prevent interference and maintain stable connections across large numbers of users. According to the NPL, building a resilient national timing infrastructure will allow the UK to maintain these services even if satellite-based timing systems are disrupted.

Pete Thompson, CEO of the National Physical Laboratory, said the funding would help ensure the programme delivers long-term benefits for both industry and national infrastructure.

“At NPL we are proud to be leading the way in providing trusted and assured timing to protect and enhance the UK’s digital infrastructure. This funding ensures the NTC programme can deliver huge benefits to industry and the economy, whilst underpinning secure applications in the future.”

As part of the programme announced today, two dedicated sites will harness the power of atomic clocks to distribute timing signals through fibre networks, satellites and radio transmissions. By creating multiple transmission pathways, the system will ensure that infrastructure does not depend on a single location or technology that could be more easily disrupted.

The National Physical Laboratory is already collaborating with companies across the UK to explore how atomic timing technology could support new applications. Potential uses include advanced navigation systems, more resilient communications networks and improvements to radar capabilities.

The announcement forms part of activities taking place during British Science Week, a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics across the UK.

Later this week, Liz Kendall, the Science and Technology Secretary, will address the Royal Society at its “Women and the future of science” event, where she is expected to highlight the role of women in shaping the future of British scientific research and innovation.

With the launch of the National Timing Centre programme, the government hopes the UK will strengthen its technological resilience while positioning itself as a global leader in precision timing – an area increasingly vital to the security and reliability of the digital economy.