GPS Crisis Grips Poland as Jamming Hits 63% of August Days
Poland's National Institute of Telecommunications reports severe, sustained GPS and GNSS signal disruptions across northern regions, with civilian infrastructure and shipping affected by what experts link to Baltic electronic warfare activity.
Poland is experiencing an unprecedented crisis in satellite navigation reliability, with deliberate interference hitting all GNSS frequency bands on 63% of days during the first half of August around Gdańsk. During the first 19 days of August 2026, significant satellite navigation problems were recorded on 63% of days, meaning that on roughly two out of every three days, civilian GPS receivers, smartphones, drones, and municipal fleet trackers experience partial or complete signal loss.
The disruptions are also affecting shipping and aviation, with vessels at risk of displaying incorrect locations. On 21 August, the Polish minehunter ORP Albatros experienced GPS jamming during operations in the Baltic Sea, as NATO's Joint Force Command Brunssum confirmed in a post on X. The severity has dramatically worsened in 2026: since the beginning of 2026, the frequency and intensity of the interference have increased significantly. In May and June, prolonged outages across all GNSS bands were observed on around 70% of days.
Source and Scope
The Institute of Telecommunications has said that the source is external and linked to the activity of electronic warfare systems in the Baltic Sea region. Experts stress that the disruptions are constant and will persist as long as military activities requiring the transmission of jamming signals continue in the area. Experts from Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdynia Maritime University, and the Institute of Telecommunications believe that the main sources of navigation signal jamming and spoofing may be located in the Kaliningrad region.
Impact on Foreigners and Expats
If you rely on GPS, ride-hailing apps, delivery services, or drone-based activities in northern Poland (especially around Gdańsk, Gdynia, or the coastal regions), expect frequent navigation failures during the next weeks or months. Public transport systems, taxi services, and logistics firms may experience location-tracking outages. Expats and visitors should carry printed maps, update offline maps on phones, and allow extra time for journeys in northern regions. Maritime workers, pilots, and anyone operating commercial drones should be aware that positioning systems cannot be relied upon.
Sources
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