Skip to main content
Defence Industry and Space
Call for tendersClosed

Galileo Regional Service

Details

Status
Closed
Publication date
Deadline date

Description

This project aimed to define and study a European global navigation satellite system (EGNSS) regional service focused on the Galileo open service and the Galileo commercial service. While the emphasis was on Galileo-only users, the project also looked into possible interactivity with EGNOS.

Contract Number: Call for Tenders No 433/PP/GRO/RCH/15/8380

Project Segment: EGNSS evolution of possible regional Galileo components

Duration: 21 months (Feb 2016 – Nov 2017)

Budget: € 690 000

Project Partners: GMV (Spain), Airbus (Germany), Nottingham Scientific Limited (United Kingdom) and Valdani Vicari & Associati (Italy)

Project Coordinator:
Ana Cezón Moro, GMV
acezonatgmv [dot] com (acezon[at]gmv[dot]com)

European Commission Project Manager:
Kjell Arne Aarmo
Kjell-Arne [dot] AARMOatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (kjell-arne[dot]aarmo[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

GSA Project Manager:
Marco Caparrini
marco [dot] caparriniatgsa [dot] europa [dot] eu (marco[dot]caparrini[at]gsa[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Background

Different global navigation satellite systems have been developed during the last decades or are currently in development. They include Galileo, GPS, GLONASS and Beidou.

A set of regional systems/services have also being developed. These provide additional benefits to users such as improving regional navigation performance and/or the capabilities provided by current global navigation systems.

The capabilities of regional services may be implemented through the use of alternate satellite orbits such as Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO), which complements the corresponding global Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation. IGSO is at around 42 000 km from Earth while MEO is at around 28 000 km.

IGSO can provide good coverage using a small number of satellites. This can ensure better coverage all over Europe, as well as good coverage at high latitudes.

Several regional services that are currently being developed, or in some cases that are already operational, are using satellites in IGSO. These are being developed mainly in Asia. For instance, Japan is planning various regional services through its Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). These services include the Standard Positioning Service (SPS), Public Regulated Service (PRS), Sub-meter Level Augmentation Service (SLAS), Centi-meter Level Augmentation Service (CLAS), QZSS DC Report, QZSS Safety Confirmation Service (Q-ANPI), and the Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) Transmission Service.

Project objectives

This project aimed to define and study a European global navigation satellite system (EGNSS) regional service focused on the Galileo open service and the Galileo commercial service. While the emphasis was on Galileo-only users, the project also looked into possible interactivity with EGNOS.

Results

The most promising EGNSS Regional Services (ERSs) showed:

  • improved performance when compared to a Galileo-only system
  • similar or better performance (depending on environmental conditions) than a multi-constellation (Galileo+GPS) approach
  • positive preliminary cost-benefit analyses (CBAs), with significant overall net benefits and high profitability figures

Of the most promising ERSs, the one providing the highest preliminary benefits (considering economic and non-economic criteria) was ERS-5. It was designed to provide additional capabilities on top of those provided by Galileo. Specifically:

  • higher availability of satellites for navigation in adverse environments in Europe
  • higher availability of integrity information in Europe
  • higher accuracy performance, both at open and commercial service levels
  • additional communication service oriented to support geo-fencing applications

ERS-2 also showed that with 5 IGSO satellites and a minor upgrade of the ground segment, we can replace the geosynchronous component of EGNOS and improve EGNOS coverage in Europe. This would contribute to the provision of new and improved Galileo services with the 5 new IGSO satellites improving Galileo visibility over Europe.

Galileo Regional Service Executive Summary

Expected impact

All potential improvements could significantly increase the number of Galileo users in Europe. A regional system would also provide a versatile platform for testing and the fast introduction of future EGNSS capabilities and services.

Disclaimer: The project results represent the views of the consortium. They do not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission and they do not commit the Commission to implementing the results.