Starlink drops GPS-style PNT feature, but researchers aren’t done with space-based navigation
Starlink has shut down its GPS-like positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability as of May 20, 2026, ending a peripheral feature that could offer location data even where GPS is jammed. SpaceX did not give a reason, fueling speculation about liability or a paid-service path ahead of an IPO. Independent researchers have already shown how Starlink signals can be exploited to determine location—with tens of seconds to meters-level accuracy—and have extended similar techniques to include OneWeb and other LEO constellations, suggesting robust GPS alternatives may emerge even after Starlink’s own PNT access is closed.