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The implementation of GOVSATCOM, Europe’s Governmental Satellite Communications programme, continues to move forward. Most recently, on 30 May 2023, the European Commission adopted three Implementing Acts. These Acts provide the legal foundation for the services that GOVSATCOM, along with IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite), will offer. 

GOVSATCOM, the fourth pillar of the EU Space Programme, will provide secure and cost-efficient communication capabilities to security and safety critical missions and operations managed by the EU and its Member States, including national security actors and EU agencies and institutions. EUSPA has been entrusted with the procurement of GOVSATCOM’s secure operational ground segment (GOVSATCOM Hubs), its operations and the coordination of the user-related aspects of the programme, all in close collaboration with Member States and other involved entities.

Check this: EUSPA is hiring a GOVSATCOM Hub Operations Manager

The IRIS² satellite constellation will provide secure communication services to the EU and its Member States, as well as broadband connectivity for European citizens, private companies and governmental authorities. The EUSPA Security Accreditation Board (SAB), where Members States take accreditation decisions, will become the IRIS² security accreditation authority, providing security assurance to users with regards to IRIS² services and infrastructure.

EUSPA contributes to Implementing Acts 

Through the Implementing Acts, the Commission establishes which satellite communications service categories are to be pooled and shared and defines the services IRIS² will provide. The Acts also outline the GOVSATCOM Hubs’ functionalities and operational aspects, presentation of the pooled capacities to the users through the service portfolio, service selection process and use of GOVSATCOM services by the users.  

EUSPA supported the Commission in preparing the Acts, contributing to their drafting and helping assess and integrate comments from the Member States. The Agency also lent their technical expertise and provided input from governmental users, the latter of which came from the EU-funded ENTRUSTED project. The project was established to provide a concrete set of governmental user requirements for GOVSATCOM services.

The full text of the Implementing Acts, as published in the Official Journal of the EU, can be found via the following links: 

• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1054 of 30 May 2023 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the service portfolio for the Governmental Satellite Communications services offered by the system established under the Union Space Programme OJ L 141, 31.5.2023, p. 49–56.
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1055 of 30 May 2023 setting out the rules on the sharing and prioritisation of satellite communication capacities, services, and user equipment to fulfil the function referred to in Article 66(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council OJ L 141, 31.5.2023, p. 57–66.
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1053 of 30 May 2023 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards operational requirements for governmental services provided under Union Secure Connectivity Programme and its service portfolio OJ L 141, 31.5.2023, p. 44–48.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

EUSPA plays a crucial role in supporting the EU Space industry throughout the innovation cycle, providing funding and market intelligence. One of the notable tools that has significantly contributed to the adoption of Galileo is the Fundamental Elements programme. This R&D funding mechanism is specifically designed to support the development of innovative chipset, antenna, and receiver technologies.

By leveraging the Fundamental Elements programme, EUSPA accelerates the integration of Galileo into market-ready devices and solutions. 

The objectives can be summarized as follows:

• Facilitate the adoption of EGNSS (European Global Navigation Satellite Systems), leveraging innovative services and differentiators.
• Enhance the competitiveness of the EU industry in the global market.
• Address user needs in critical market segments.
• Maximize the benefits of Galileo for European citizens.

Projects funded through the Fundamental Elements programme play a pivotal role in EUSPA's mission to drive the development and market uptake of Galileo-enabled receivers. These initiatives contribute to the growth and success of the EU Space industry, fostering innovation and ensuring the wide availability of reliable and advanced positioning, navigation, and timing services.

The new call currently open is looking to support the development of a hybrid terminal for connectivity for cutting-edge devices.

Connectivity: Enabling next generation NAV/COM Hybrid Terminal

As the number of connected devices is growing exponentially, the focus has shifted to solution owners locating all assets simultaneously with minimal power drain. It's no longer about individual assets locating themselves, but about efficient, centralized asset tracking solutions. This approach optimizes power consumption while providing real-time visibility and operational efficiency.

In this context, integrating Terrestrial Networks (TN) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) have the potential of connecting the unconnected and enhancing the user experience for the already-connected devices, with technological and societal implications of the greatest long-term significance. 

Objectives: 

Development of a unified hybrid user terminal, that shall support (and process):

• From communication perspective: TN and NTN communication signals
• From Navigation perspective: signals from GNSS and LEO for PNT

And optionally can support (and process):

• From communication to navigation perspective (COM2NAV): communication signals to provide localization services according to several wireless communication methods
• From navigation to communication perspective (NAV2COM): (considering GNSS and all other PNT functions) positioning, ranging and time synchronization to improve data acquisition task by channel estimation, beam alignment, medium access control, routing, and network optimization.

Foreseen result:

Unified hybrid user terminal capable to support TN and NTN communication together with GNSS, and Galileo in particular, and LEO satellite signals in order to support joint Data & PNT services, reaching TRL 7. 

The maximum budget is set to 3 M€ and the indicative number of projects to be awarded is four.

Deadline for submission: 15 September 2023

More details about this call will be made available during EUSPA’s upcoming Fundamental Elements online Workshop via Webex, to be held on 30 June from 11.00 to 12.30 CEST. The workshop will include in-depth information on the funding programme and the application process. More information is available at this link. 

The Fundamental Elements Industry Days Workshop: Developing cutting-edge devices for connectivity, will include in-depth information on the funding programme and the application process as well as insights about the calls.

Join us here

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The annual User Consultation Platform (UCP) led by EUSPA, is a forum in which the EU Space Programme user community meets to share their experiences, reflect on needs and discuss market trends in satellite navigation, earth observation and satellite communications. The input gathered during the UCP is essential for the evolution of Galileo/EGNOS, Copernicus and GOVSATCOM/IRIS2 systems and the services they provide.  

The last UCP which was held during EU Space Week 2022 gathered over 300 attendees from 7 different market segments including Infrastructure, Renewable Energy and Raw Materials, Consumer Applications, Aviation and Drones, Maritime and Fisheries, Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid, as well as Insurance and Finance. 

"The outcomes of the UCP are crucial for service definition and service provision of the EU Space Programme. The input from users allows EU decision-makers and us service providers to design and develop EO, GNSS and Satcom services that bring added value to a broad range of our economy and society," says Head of Market Downstream and Innovation Department, Fiammetta Diani. 

The results of the UCP were used to compile and update a series of Reports on User Needs and Requirements per market including for the first time those related to COPERNICUS and are now available here:

Sneak a peek at UCP 2023 

The UCP is a one-of-a-kind networking opportunity that allows the entire space ecosystem to explore new synergies and keep abreast of the latest developments in this fast-paced sector. The Platform’s format allows all the various space stakeholders to share their experiences and expertise and learn from each other, helping them to grow stronger and become more innovative and competitive.

The 5th edition of the User Consultation Platform (UCP) for the European Space Programme will take place on 7 November 2023 in Sevilla, Spain. It will be a one-day event composed of 7 parallel sessions in which users will be grouped by market segment:

• Agriculture and Forestry
• Environmental Climate & Biodiversity
• Rail
• Public Transport
• Road and Automotive
• Space 
• Resilient Societies

More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The annual User Consultation Platform (UCP) led by EUSPA, is a forum in which the EU Space Programme user community meets to share their experiences, reflect on needs and discuss market trends in satellite navigation, earth observation and satellite communications. The input gathered during the UCP is essential for the evolution of Galileo/EGNOS, Copernicus and GOVSATCOM/IRIS2 systems and the services they provide.  

The last UCP which was held during EU Space Week 2022 gathered over 300 attendees from 7 different market segments including Infrastructure, Renewable Energy and Raw Materials, Consumer Applications, Aviation and Drones, Maritime and Fisheries, Emergency Management and Humanitarian Aid, as well as Insurance and Finance. 

"The outcomes of the UCP are crucial for service definition and service provision of the EU Space Programme. The input from users allows EU decision-makers and us service providers to design and develop EO, GNSS and Satcom services that bring added value to a broad range of our economy and society," says Head of Market Downstream and Innovation Department, Fiammetta Diani. 

The results of the UCP were used to compile and update a series of Reports on User Needs and Requirements per market including for the first time those related to Copernicus and are now available here.

Sneak a peek at UCP 2023 

The UCP is a one-of-a-kind networking opportunity that allows the entire space ecosystem to explore new synergies and keep abreast of the latest developments in this fast-paced sector. The Platform’s format allows all the various space stakeholders to share their experiences and expertise and learn from each other, helping them to grow stronger and become more innovative and competitive.

The 5th edition of the User Consultation Platform (UCP) for the European Space Programme will take place on 7 November 2023 in Sevilla, Spain. It will be a one-day event composed of 7 parallel sessions in which users will be grouped by market segment:

• Agriculture and Forestry
• Environmental Climate & Biodiversity
• Rail
• Public Transport
• Road and Automotive
• Space 
• Resilient Societies

More details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).