- Event follows on from successful launch of Ireland’s National Timing Grid in 2023
- Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) plays a crucial role in modern economies – enabling over 10% of Europe’s annual GDP, more than €14 trillion
- NSAI and its partners Data Edge and Timing Solutions are aiming to protect timing and synchronisation of Ireland’s critical infrastructures
- Guest speakers include Dr. Leon Lobo, Head of the UK’s National Timing Centre, and Dr. Lukasz Bonenberg, Space Programmes Policy and Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
DUBLIN, 11th February 2025: The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), in conjunction with their partners Data Edge, Timing Solutions and HEAnet, are hosting Ireland’s inaugural Time & Sync Forum today, 11th Feb 2025, in Santry, Dublin. The event is bringing together a number of leading authorities in timing and synchronisation from Ireland, the UK and the European Commission to discuss key topics and policies relating to critical infrastructure on the island of Ireland.
Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies play a crucial role in modern economies, and enable over 10% of Europe’s annual GDP, or more than €14 trillion*. Major industries such as communications, energy, transportation, public services and financial services are increasingly reliant on precise timing and timing distribution to deliver their services.
Commenting on the event, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said, “Position, Navigation and Timing technologies are a core part of the work of a number of industries that are cornerstones of the Irish economy. Earlier this year, the Programme for Government committed to delivering a strong enterprise and fiscal framework to support competitiveness and the growth of a strong industrial base which has created jobs, grown exports, promoted innovation, and raised our standard of living. I warmly welcome this event, focussed on building on the launch of the National Timing Grid, and its role in advancing Ireland’s domestic capabilities to support industry.”
Following on from the successful launch of Ireland’s first National Timing Grid in 2023, the NSAI is hosting the Forum to promote the continuing need for Ireland to have as much control over its timing infrastructure as possible, including the potential replacement of Greenwich Mean Time with a domestic equivalent.
Keynote speakers include Dr. Leon Lobo, Head of the National Timing Centre (NTC) programme at Britain’s National Physical Laboratory, who is delivering its national timing strategy. Dr. Lukasz Bonenberg, Space Programmes Policy and Scientific Officer, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission, will also provide his expertise having worked on Galileo, the EU’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Between them, Drs. Lobo and Bonenberg will provide an important overview of PNT resiliency across Europe.
Along with Data Edge, Timing Solutions and HEAnet, NSAI are currently working on enhancing Ireland’s PNT capabilities through the National Timing Grid and the distribution of verified global GNSS data to support compliance with the upcoming EU NIS2 Directive. This update to the EU’s original Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive significantly expands cybersecurity obligations for critical infrastructure sectors.
NSAI’s National Metrology Laboratory (NML), based in Glasnevin, maintains the reference measurement standards for Time & Frequency and contribute their atomic clock data to the International Bureau for Weights and Measures (BIPM) who maintain and calculate Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Whilst Legal Time in Ireland is under the remit of the Department of Justice, the internationally accepted representation of the second in Ireland is maintained by the NSAI’s NML.
David Fleming, National Standards Authority of Ireland, Technical Manager for Time, said, “We expect this important gathering to provide valuable insights which help us to inform policy development at a Governmental level and outline the requirements for investment in key timing infrastructure for the country. In a time of disruption and major technological advancements, Ireland needs to be as self-sufficient in this area as possible, while also aligning fully with our international counterparts.”
“With this event, we are aiming to draw in and engage as many interested stakeholders as possible to determine the requirements across the diverse sectors dependent upon precise timing.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
*Source: EU Commission, Joint Research Centre: Complementary Position, Navigation and Timing (C-PNT)
Image captions:
(1), (2) & (3): L-R: Eoin Kenny, Innovation and R&D Manager, HEAnet, Paul Phelan, CEO, Data Edge Ltd., Dr. David Fleming, Technical Manager – Time, Frequency and Acoustics Standards Laboratories, NSAI National Metrology Laboratory, and Dr. Zdenek Chaloupka, Owner, Timing Solutions NSAI. The NSAI is hosting Ireland’s inaugural Time & Sync Forum to highlight the importance of timing for national infrastructure.
About NSAI and the National Metrology Laboratory
The National Metrology Laboratory (NML) is the national metrology institute for Ireland and is responsible for establishing, maintaining and developing the national measurement standards for physical quantities and their dissemination to Irish users. NML operates as a division of NSAI (The National Standards Authority of Ireland). NSAI is Ireland’s official standards body. We operate under the National Standards Authority of Ireland Act (1996) and we are accountable to the Minister of State for Small Businesses and Retail. As Ireland’s Official standards body, NSAI aims to inspire consumer confidence and create the infrastructure for products and services to be recognized and relied on, all over the world.
About Data Edge
Established in 1989, Data Edge is Ireland’s largest and most experienced network and application performance management company. With unrivalled experience of traditional and next-generation communication systems in Ireland, Data Edge provides products and services that enable customers to deliver the best possible end-user experience.
Data Edge has exclusive partnerships with some of the world’s leading IT and performance management vendors, such as Anritsu, Spirent, Microchip and Broadcom, to provide high-quality solutions to carrier, enterprise and government customers. Its headquarters are in Bray, Co. Wicklow. For more information, visit www.dataedge.ie