Accurate and secure timing information is essential for critical infrastructure in strategic networks such as the energy distribution grids, the telecom, or financial ones. These sectors, and all timing users, will benefit from the Galileo Timing Service and from the implementation of Standards in timing receivers.

On February 2nd, the Workshop on standardisation of Galileo Timing Receivers, jointly organized by EUSPA and the European Commission, with the support of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), convened a large number of stakeholders from various sectors crucial to critical infrastructure, including receiver manufacturers, telecom operators, timing laboratories, research institutions and BIPM. At the centre of this workshop was the presentation of the 1st Galileo Timing Receiver Standard, developed within CEN/CENELEC under the initiative of the European Commission. The Standard will play a pivotal role towards ensuring higher levels of timing accuracy and reliability to end users.

Key outcomes included reaffirming the necessity of timing receiver standards, previously identified by projects developed under Horizon 2020 and Fundamental Elements programmes. The Workshop was also the occasion to review the comprehensive set of requirements and needs for timing and synchronization, overseen by EUSPA as part of the User Consultation Platform process – and published through the Report on Time & Synchronisation User Needs and Requirements. Notably none of the existing requirements were challenged and they remained as per the current version. 

The active participation during the Q&A session, allowing attendees to delve deeper into the standard, particularly beneficial for those unfamiliar with the CEN/CENELEC process, demonstrated the strong interest in the workshop.

In summary, the workshop provided the opportunity to present and discuss the Standard for Galileo Timing Receivers, confirms its relevance for the community and validates the existing set of timing and synchronisation user needs and requirements.