Common Issues & FAQs
How a Secondary APNT Solution can Help Maintain Operations During Severe Weather
The 2025 North American severe-weather season has begun, with experts predicting above-average hurricane¹, tornado², and fire³ seasons. Last year, the Atlantic hurricane season alone was estimated to have caused more than $200 billion in damages and economic losses⁴.
When disaster strikes, having a secondary assured positioning, navigation, and timing (APNT) solution integrated into your operations can help reduce downtime and enhance asset safety in the following ways:
1. Delivers weather-proof connectivity that works inside or outdoors
Whether you’re overseeing emergency personnel in a dense urban environment or navigating a commercial ship through stormy waters, being able to quickly and dependably communicate with assets is critical.
Unlike GPS/GNSS signals, which can be obstructed indoors or limited in remote areas, some APNT solutions such as those offered by NAL Research leverage Iridium’s low-earth-orbit (LEO) L-band satellite network. This resilient service provides continuous global coverage indoors, outdoors, and at all altitudes, and is less susceptible to weather.
2. Maintains precise and reliable positioning, navigation, and timing
When GPS/GNSS signals are compromised due to hazardous conditions, a secondary APNT solution can act as a back-up for timing synchronization.
NAL Research’s handheld SHOUT nano 500, for example, uses Iridium Satellite Time & Location (STL) to complement GPS/GNSS by leveraging a signal approximately 1,000 times more powerful. Having continuous access to critical location and timing information enables you to reliably track ground, maritime, and airborne assets during and after disaster occurs.
3. Fixed and mobile solutions are available to support any operation
APNT offerings can be installed or grab-and-go to provide the crucial coverage and technical performance needed for complete situational awareness—no matter what’s in the forecast.
Blue Sky Network’s SkyLink® Citadel with integrated Iridium STL is a next-generation maritime solution that helps you sail through stormy weather while affixed to your shipping vessel. For more mobile operations, NAL offers low size, weight, and power (SWaP) products such as SHOUT nano 500 to connect easily with dispersed assets.
For many organizations, weather plays a critical role in operational planning, communications, and quality control. While creating your emergency preparedness plan, consider implementing a secondary APNT solution to ensure operational awareness, safety, and workforce connectivity in the event of a natural disaster.
To learn more about APNT and NAL’s innovative solutions, visit www.apntbynal.com and www.nalresearch.com or email [email protected].
ABOUT NAL RESEARCH
NAL Research is a pioneer in delivering trusted and resilient connectivity and PNT solutions—designed to meet the dynamic communications, data intelligence, location, and timing needs of the future. In 2024, NAL Research and Blue Sky Network strategically merged to optimize operations and provide a diverse enterprise and government customer base with transformative solutions and enhanced service and support. NAL and Blue Sky Network’s combined portfolio now includes emerging satellite and mobile technology products, satellite-based tracking systems, powerful APNT modules, intelligent software applications, IoT tracking, and two-way devices enabling seamless global connectivity. For more information visit www.nalresearch.com.
Sources
¹ https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-predicts-above-normal-2025-atlantic-hurricane-season
² https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/tornado-season-2025-active-through-april-and-may-keeping-pace
³ https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/wildfire-season-in-us-could-rapidly-escalate-amid-building-heat-drought/1764913
⁴ https://nypost.com/2024/11/26/us-news/2024-atlantic-hurricane-season-among-costliest-on-record/