New satellites in low-Earth orbit might revolutionize navigation by offering signals 100 times stronger than GPS. This enhanced power will enable greater accuracy, especially in dense urban areas or inside buildings where current systems struggle. Xona Space Systems plans to launch its first six production satellites next year, with a full constellation of 258 Pulsar satellites expected to provide centimetre-level precision.

According to Xona’s co-founder Adrien Perkins, the higher power will allow signals to penetrate environments where GPS falls short. This is crucial as interference from jamming becomes more frequent in commercial and maritime applications. The company has already demonstrated these capabilities with its Pulsar-0 satellite, which participated in jamming tests that reduced a jammer’s effective area by 95%.

Beyond navigation, Xona satellites could also offer precise timing signals to financial markets and telecommunications services. By October 2026, the company will have signed up several precision-timing customers for various applications, enhancing reliability in critical infrastructure.

This move towards lower orbits is part of a broader trend aimed at improving both accuracy and resilience against interference. As GPS faces increasing disruption, these new satellites could provide a robust alternative that works seamlessly indoors and under foliage where GPS signals often falter.