Image: Shutterstock
What’s new: Two government agencies in Norway are proposing establishment of a national time service that does not depend on satellites and are asking for input. Observers tell us this project will go forward and this request is to help refine how it will be accomplished.
Why its important: Precise, authoritative time and timing is essential for virtually every technology and application. GPS and other GNSS signals in Norway have been regularly disrupted, especially in the far north, by Russian interference.
What else to know:
- We went to the report referenced in the below press release and have copied an English language version of its summary below the NKOM press release.
- We are still working our way through the report, but from the summary it seems Norway is envisioning a fiber-based system of clocks without a broadcast or wireless component.
- Sweden took steps in 2019 to greatly reduce dependence on satellites for timing by requiring critical infrastructure to rely only on Swedish sources. We expect to post a discussion about that in the next few weeks.
Access to precise time is becoming increasingly important – requests for input for investigation
The world is becoming increasingly digital, making several important societal functions more dependent on access to accurate time. In a new study, the Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) and the Norwegian National Time Service (Justervesenet) propose establishing a national time service in Norway.
Nkom and Justervesenet recommend establishing a national time service that does not depend on satellites.
Asking for input
The ministries are now requesting input into the study as part of Justervesenet and Nkom’s further work to assess the establishment of a national time service.
“Precise and traceable time is a fundamental requirement in a digitalized world. The input will be important in the further work of assessing the need for and how a national time service should be established,” says Slette.
You can read the entire report here.
Input for the report can be sent to [email protected] and [email protected] .
The deadline for submissions is January 30, 2026.
ANNOUNCEMENT ON NKOM SITE HERE
Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom)
Justervesenet (Norwegian Metrology Service)
Mapping of needs and assessment of solutions for establishing a robust infrastructure for the distribution of precise and traceable time signals
Joint response to the assignment given to the Norwegian Communications Authority and Justervesenet
30 June 2025
Summary
On 7 January 2025, the Norwegian Communications Authority and Justervesenet received a joint assignment to map the need for a robust infrastructure for distributing precise and traceable time signals, and to assess possible solutions. The assignment was issued by the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Administration and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. This report responds to that assignment.
An input round was conducted among actors in various societal sectors, along with meetings with stakeholders in Norway and abroad. The input round mapped the need for such an infrastructure, and the meetings provided insight into how similar infrastructures have been built, managed, and operated in other countries.
The input shows a clear need for a national time and frequency service, and most actors prefer a fully public service. Today, most operational needs are met through solutions that rely heavily on GNSS.
Technical requirements vary across sectors.
There is a general desire for network‑based time services (NTP) and for services with higher accuracy. It is appropriate that a national time service provides Precision Time Protocol (PTP), including White Rabbit, to achieve microsecond‑ and nanosecond‑level accuracy.
The “zero alternative” is that each actor continues to meet their own needs individually. Because GNSS signals are easy to disrupt or spoof, this approach carries inherent vulnerability to both intentional and unintentional events. If GNSS becomes unavailable, accurate time may be partially or completely lost, with potentially severe consequences—especially for tightly integrated digital services. Several European countries with similar infrastructures have assessed this risk.
Therefore, the report recommends establishing a national time and frequency service independent of GNSS. Such a solution should include at least four redundant clock nodes to ensure regional autonomy, as well as two transportable clock nodes. The service should offer NTP, PTP, and White Rabbit. This will meet sector‑specific needs and support innovation and research collaboration. High‑capacity fiber networks should be used to coordinate and monitor the nodes, with GNSS‑based methods used during the build‑out phase.
The service should be financed through the national budget, with overall responsibility clarified between the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Administration and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. A national time service will constitute a fundamental national digital function. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries is responsible for the fundamental national function of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Cooperation between the Norwegian Communications Authority, Justervesenet, Sikt, and the Norwegian Internet Exchange is considered essential.
The estimated investment cost is NOK 85 million, covering the acquisition of necessary atomic clocks and associated equipment.
The service should be operational—though not necessarily fully built out—within 18 months of assignment.
Implementing a robust infrastructure for distributing precise and traceable time signals is considered necessary and critical for achieving Norway’s strategic security goal 6: maintaining sufficient national control over critical infrastructure. It also contributes to goals 8 and 10.
