The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have raised serious concerns regarding the growing incidents of interference with critical aviation, maritime, and telecommunications services. In a joint statement, these organizations highlighted the increasing frequency of harmful disruptions, particularly in the form of jamming and spoofing, which target Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) operating within the frequency bands designated for Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS).
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar emphasized the far-reaching dangers of such interference, stating, “Interference with RNSS can affect aircraft operations well beyond the immediately impacted area, potentially jeopardizing safety across multiple flight regions.” He affirmed ICAO’s commitment to collaborating with Member States to implement protective measures through existing aviation safety standards and frameworks.
The statement outlines five critical actions required from Member States to address the issue:
- Protect RNSS from harmful interference affecting civilian and humanitarian operations.
- Enhance the resilience of RNSS-dependent navigation, positioning, and timing systems.
- Maintain conventional navigation infrastructure as a contingency support mechanism.
- Strengthen collaboration among regulatory bodies, aviation, maritime, defense, and enforcement authorities.
- Establish comprehensive interference reporting mechanisms to ensure timely and effective responses.
This initiative builds upon ICAO Assembly Resolution A41-8/C, which calls for closer coordination between aviation authorities, military agencies, service providers, and spectrum enforcement bodies to safeguard communication and navigation systems.
The Resolution specifically urges States to refrain from engaging in any jamming or spoofing activities that could affect civil aviation. It stresses the importance of coordinating with air navigation service providers when military or security operations may interfere with civilian aviation.
The growing concern over interference threats underscores the urgent need for unified global action to protect the safety and reliability of essential systems in the aviation, maritime, and telecommunications sectors.
