Why your GPS is off: Military actions by Israel disrupt navigation in Cyprus

If your smartphone's GPS system has been inaccurately showing your location as Limassol when you're actually in Protaras, don't worry—your device isn't malfunctioning. Similar issues have been reported by mobile users across the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in countries near Israel. These GPS disruptions are being attributed to ongoing military operations in the Middle East. Since the onset of the conflict, Israel has reportedly taken control of the global positioning system in the region for military purposes, causing widespread interference.

These GPS malfunctions have also affected civilian aircraft systems, though experts reassure that there's no significant risk to air travel. Stelios Galidis, a former pilot with Cyprus Airways and now a pilot trainer, told the press that while GPS is one of four navigation systems used by commercial planes, its temporary unavailability does not compromise flight safety. Aircraft crews are trained to disable GPS to prevent incorrect data from affecting other navigation systems.

The disruptions have primarily impacted services that rely on precise location data, such as food delivery services and tourists navigating unfamiliar areas. For instance, a resident of Larnaca was shocked to find his food delivery order appearing to be en route to Lebanon, according to local reports. Despite these inconveniences, government authorities have stated that they are unable to resolve the issue as it stems from external military activities.

This is not the first time such disruptions have occurred. Similar GPS issues have been noted during previous military exercises in the region when forces also commandeered the system for training purposes. The commercial sector's GPS is a limited subset of the full global system, which is heavily utilized by military operations for guiding long-range, precision-strike weaponry.

While the public may face challenges due to these disruptions, it is important to note that the aviation sector has contingency systems in place to maintain safety during such occurrences.

[Summary of Apostolis Tomaras' original story in Greek published in Kathimerini's Cyprus edition]