PNT (Positioning, Navigation & Timing)

PNT describes the three interconnected capabilities that GNSS constellations deliver. Positioning determines a receiver's location (latitude, longitude, altitude). Navigation uses position and velocity to compute routes and guidance. Timing distributes precise time synchronisation from the satellites' atomic clocks. While consumer GPS is the most visible application, the timing component may be the most critical to modern infrastructure: financial markets timestamp transactions to microseconds using GPS time, cellular base stations synchronise handoffs, power grids coordinate fault isolation, and internet protocols depend on accurate timing. Loss of PNT services would cascade across these sectors within hours.