zprávy

A great year for Galileo, and the GSA

2017 was a year marked with milestones. Following the Declaration of Initial Services last December, on July 1 the GSA officially took responsibility for the Galileo operations and service provision. In June, we formally received the keys to the new Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) in The Netherlands, a facility that plays a pivotal role, with independent monitoring of and reporting on Galileo’s performance. Furthermore, as of July 1, the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC) began delivering services 24/7, supporting the configuration of Initial Services.

In parallel, additional satellites are being added to the Galileo constellation. Just last week we saw the successful launch of four more satellites, bringing the constellation to a total of 22. This satellite launch was special for the GSA, as it was the first time the GSA played a role with responsibility for the Early Orbit Phase of the mission and overseeing Spaceopal GmbH in their new role as the Galileo Service Operator (GSOp). This role is essential to ensuring proper system performance and a related return on investment from Galileo in the form of value-added services and applications.

The GSA’s achievements have also been highlighted in a mid-term review performed by the EC, and endorsed by the Parliament and Council. This is an important recognition of the hard work and commitment of the entire European GNSS community.

Last but not least, the GSA ISO-9001 re-certification reconfirmed that the Agency is growing on a solid foundation of quality.

Bringing value to the market

Throughout the year, the GSA made headway in maximising Galileo user adoption. In November, we welcomed nearly 280 users to the 1st Galileo User Assembly – with many more joining in remotely. Here we inaugurated another important milestone for the Galileo programme: the User Consultation Platform (UCP). Through this innovative platform, users from a wide range of market segments can share information on needs and market trends and define their Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) user requirements.

We also continued our close work with chipset and receiver manufacturers, as they are essential to Galileo’s success. A highlight here was Broadcom’s launch of the BCM47755 – the world’s first mass-market, dual frequency GNSS receiver device for smartphones.  Indeed our market development efforts are paying off. When Apple unveiled its much-anticipated iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X earlier this year, it announced that each was Galileo-enabled. The new iPhones join a growing list of top smartphone brands that support Galileo, including a range of phones from BQ, Huawei, Samsung, Meizu and Sony.

Moving EGNOS forward

Even though Galileo dominated much of the headlines this year, 2017 was also another banner year for EGNOS, which has been providing an excellent performance to users. The highlight was the signing of the EGNOS GEO 3 contract, which marks a major milestone in the programme’s development. We are also making real progress on EGNOS Version 3, and I am hopeful that the contract will be signed soon.

New year, new achievements

But enough about the past, it’s time to look ahead! With 2018 on the horizon, I see improved performance for both Galileo and EGNOS and ever-increasing market uptake. A particular focus will be on ensuring that we achieve the Enhanced Services milestone for Galileo in 2018. As we quickly move towards Full Operational Capability (FOC), I have no doubt that Galileo is poised to become the second GNSS constellation of choice – supporting billions of users worldwide.  

As 2017 draws to a close, my heartfelt thanks go to the GSA staff for their hard work and commitment, and special thanks go to the European GNSS community for their trust and support throughout the year.

Happy Holidays to all of you.  

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

A great year for Galileo, and the GSA

2017 was a year marked with milestones. Following the Declaration of Initial Services last December, on July 1 the GSA officially took responsibility for the Galileo operations and service provision.

In June, we formally received the keys to the new Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) in The Netherlands, a facility that plays a pivotal role, with independent monitoring of and reporting on Galileo’s performance. Furthermore, as of July 1, the Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC) began delivering services 24/7, supporting the configuration of Initial Services.

In parallel, additional satellites are being added to the Galileo constellation. Just last week we saw the successful launch of four more satellites, bringing the constellation to a total of 22. This satellite launch was special for the GSA, as it was the first time the GSA played a role with responsibility for the Early Orbit Phase of the mission and overseeing Spaceopal GmbH in their new role as the Galileo Service Operator (GSOp). This role is essential to ensuring proper system performance and a related return on investment from Galileo in the form of value-added services and applications.

The GSA’s achievements have also been highlighted in a mid-term review performed by the EC, and endorsed by the Parliament and Council. This is an important recognition of the hard work and commitment of the entire European GNSS community.

Last but not least, the GSA ISO-9001 re-certification reconfirmed that the Agency is growing on a solid foundation of quality.

Bringing value to the market

Throughout the year, the GSA made headway in maximising Galileo user adoption. In November, we welcomed nearly 280 users to the 1st Galileo User Assembly – with many more joining in remotely. Here we inaugurated another important milestone for the Galileo programme: the User Consultation Platform (UCP). Through this innovative platform, users from a wide range of market segments can share information on needs and market trends and define their Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) user requirements.

We also continued our close work with chipset and receiver manufacturers, as they are essential to Galileo’s success. A highlight here was Broadcom’s launch of the BCM47755 – the world’s first mass-market, dual frequency GNSS receiver device for smartphones.  Indeed our market development efforts are paying off. When Apple unveiled its much-anticipated iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X earlier this year, it announced that each was Galileo-enabled. The new iPhones join a growing list of top smartphone brands that support Galileo, including a range of phones from BQ, Huawei, Samsung, Meizu and Sony.

Moving EGNOS forward

Even though Galileo dominated much of the headlines this year, 2017 was also another banner year for EGNOS, which has been providing an excellent performance to users. The highlight was the signing of the EGNOS GEO 3 contract, which marks a major milestone in the programme’s development. We are also making real progress on EGNOS Version 3, and I am hopeful that the contract will be signed soon.

New year, new achievements

But enough about the past, it’s time to look ahead! With 2018 on the horizon, I see improved performance for both Galileo and EGNOS and ever-increasing market uptake. A particular focus will be on ensuring that we achieve the Enhanced Services milestone for Galileo in 2018. As we quickly move towards Full Operational Capability (FOC), I have no doubt that Galileo is poised to become the second GNSS constellation of choice – supporting billions of users worldwide.  

As 2017 draws to a close, my heartfelt thanks go to the GSA staff for their hard work and commitment, and special thanks go to the European GNSS community for their trust and support throughout the year.

Happy Holidays to all of you.  

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The Assembly had three main parts together with ample opportunities for the Galileo user community to network. The launch of the Galileo User Consultation Platform (see separate article) and a visit to the GSC itself (see separate article) were complemented by the first Galileo Service Provision Workshop. This had its main session on the morning of 29 November and presented the observed performance of the system over its first year of service operation and plans for the evolution of the services.

Service provision workshop

The first ever Galileo Service Provision Workshop was opened by Flores Diaz Pulido from European Commission DG Grow. She had worked with Commissioner Loyola de Palacio in the early years of Galileo and was happy to see that Galileo was now a functioning reality.

Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Services Programme Manager at the GSA, updated users on the status of the Galileo Services and the GSA. Currently, Initial Services are provided to users around the globe, with relevant information to the users published on the GSC website in real time and detailed performance of Open Service and Search and Rescue Service provided quarterly.

In addition, new ground infrastructure was in place across Europe including the Galileo Reference Centre in the Netherlands, The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre in Toulouse and the Galileo Integrated Logistics Centre that opens 1 December in Belgium, he noted.

He also anticipated the launch of enhanced services and activities on high accuracy and authentication.

The actual performance of Galileo during Initial Service was described by Alberto Madrazo of the GSA. Overall the system had displayed high signal availability, excellent ranging accuracy – managing an average ranging accuracy during August of 0.3 metres, and a timing accuracy averaging at 9.3 nanoseconds. This compares to the Initial Services target of 30 nanoseconds. In general, the performance of the system was consistently far exceeding its defined minimum performance levels.

“The performance of Galileo, with its partial constellation and less than one year’s operational experience, is already at least as good as GPS, with its full constellation and 25 years operational experience,” claimed Madrazo.

In terms of the future he saw that the trends showed “continuous improvement that will pave the way to enhanced services.”

Reference measure

Peter Buist, Manager of the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC), also supported the quality of Galileo’s performance. The role of the GRC is to provide independent performance monitoring of Galileo and other GNSS with reporting based around a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). The GRC represented a fully independent system based at Noordwijk in The Netherlands and also receives monitoring data from other Member States.

“The GRC helps ensure that Galileo users are provided with very high-quality signals for use with an array of new navigation applications,” said Buist.

The GRC has also been nominated by the European Commission to act as the European Monitoring and Analysis Centre for Galileo as part of a joint United Nations project monitoring GNSS.

Alvaro Mozo, GSA’s Galileo Service Engineering Manager declared that “Galileo is here and working well but challenges remain.” He gave an overview of the next steps to improve the services, which rely on continuous monitoring, further infrastructure deployment and validation campaigns, while assuring service continuity at the same time.

Closing the Assembly, Flores Diaz Pulido praised the innovative, thorough and committed nature of the event participants. “The two days have exceeded my expectations,” she said. There was still much work to be done, but she was “sure that with Galileo in your hands – all of you - it will be a success.”

For news, images and presentations from the Galileo User Assembly, click here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 the article back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The Assembly had three main parts together with ample opportunities for the Galileo user community to network.

The launch of the Galileo User Consultation Platform (see separate article) and a visit to the GSC itself (see separate article) were complemented by the first Galileo Service Provision Workshop. This had its main session on the morning of 29 November and presented the observed performance of the system over its first year of service operation and plans for the evolution of the services.

Service provision workshop

The first ever Galileo Service Provision Workshop was opened by Flores Diaz Pulido from European Commission DG Grow. She had worked with Commissioner Loyola de Palacio in the early years of Galileo and was happy to see that Galileo was now a functioning reality.

Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Services Programme Manager at the GSA, updated users on the status of the Galileo Services and the GSA. Currently, Initial Services are provided to users around the globe, with relevant information to the users published on the GSC website in real time and detailed performance of Open Service and Search and Rescue Service provided quarterly.

In addition, new ground infrastructure was in place across Europe including the Galileo Reference Centre in the Netherlands, The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre in Toulouse and the Galileo Integrated Logistics Centre that opens 1 December in Belgium, he noted.

He also anticipated the launch of enhanced services and activities on high accuracy and authentication.

The actual performance of Galileo during Initial Service was described by Alberto Madrazo of the GSA. Overall the system had displayed high signal availability, excellent ranging accuracy – managing an average ranging accuracy during August of 0.3 metres, and a timing accuracy averaging at 9.3 nanoseconds. This compares to the Initial Services target of 30 nanoseconds. In general, the performance of the system was consistently far exceeding its defined minimum performance levels.

“The performance of Galileo, with its partial constellation and less than one year’s operational experience, is already at least as good as GPS, with its full constellation and 25 years operational experience,” claimed Madrazo.

In terms of the future he saw that the trends showed “continuous improvement that will pave the way to enhanced services.”

Reference measure

Peter Buist, Manager of the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC), also supported the quality of Galileo’s performance. The role of the GRC is to provide independent performance monitoring of Galileo and other GNSS with reporting based around a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). The GRC represented a fully independent system based at Noordwijk in The Netherlands and also receives monitoring data from other Member States.

“The GRC helps ensure that Galileo users are provided with very high-quality signals for use with an array of new navigation applications,” said Buist.

The GRC has also been nominated by the European Commission to act as the European Monitoring and Analysis Centre for Galileo as part of a joint United Nations project monitoring GNSS.

Alvaro Mozo, GSA’s Galileo Service Engineering Manager declared that “Galileo is here and working well but challenges remain.” He gave an overview of the next steps to improve the services, which rely on continuous monitoring, further infrastructure deployment and validation campaigns, while assuring service continuity at the same time.

Closing the Assembly, Flores Diaz Pulido praised the innovative, thorough and committed nature of the event participants. “The two days have exceeded my expectations,” she said. There was still much work to be done, but she was “sure that with Galileo in your hands – all of you - it will be a success.”

For news, images and presentations from the Galileo User Assembly, click here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 the article back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The Assembly had three main parts together with ample opportunities for the Galileo user community to network.

The launch of the Galileo User Consultation Platform and a visit to the GSC itself were complemented by the first Galileo Service Provision Workshop. This had its main session on the morning of 29 November and presented the observed performance of the system over its first year of service operation and plans for the evolution of the services.

Service provision workshop

The first ever Galileo Service Provision Workshop was opened by Flores Diaz Pulido from European Commission DG Grow. She had worked with Commissioner Loyola de Palacio in the early years of Galileo and was happy to see that Galileo was now a functioning reality.

Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Services Programme Manager at the GSA, updated users on the status of the Galileo Services and the GSA. Currently, Initial Services are provided to users around the globe, with relevant information to the users published on the GSC website in real time and detailed performance of Open Service and Search and Rescue Service provided quarterly.

In addition, new ground infrastructure was in place across Europe including the Galileo Reference Centre in the Netherlands, The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre in Toulouse and the Galileo Integrated Logistics Centre that opens 1 December in Belgium, he noted.

He also anticipated the launch of enhanced services and activities on high accuracy and authentication.

The actual performance of Galileo during Initial Service was described by Alberto Madrazo of the GSA. Overall the system had displayed high signal availability, excellent ranging accuracy – managing an average ranging accuracy during August of 0.3 metres, and a timing accuracy averaging at 9.3 nanoseconds. This compares to the Initial Services target of 30 nanoseconds. In general, the performance of the system was consistently far exceeding its defined minimum performance levels.

“The performance of Galileo, with its partial constellation and less than one year’s operational experience, is already at least as good as GPS, with its full constellation and 25 years operational experience,” claimed Madrazo.

In terms of the future he saw that the trends showed “continuous improvement that will pave the way to enhanced services.”

Reference measure

Peter Buist, Manager of the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC), also supported the quality of Galileo’s performance. The role of the GRC is to provide independent performance monitoring of Galileo and other GNSS with reporting based around a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). The GRC represented a fully independent system based at Noordwijk in The Netherlands and also receives monitoring data from other Member States.

“The GRC helps ensure that Galileo users are provided with very high-quality signals for use with an array of new navigation applications,” said Buist.

The GRC has also been nominated by the European Commission to act as the European Monitoring and Analysis Centre for Galileo as part of a joint United Nations project monitoring GNSS.

Alvaro Mozo, GSA’s Galileo Service Engineering Manager declared that “Galileo is here and working well but challenges remain.” He gave an overview of the next steps to improve the services, which rely on continuous monitoring, further infrastructure deployment and validation campaigns, while assuring service continuity at the same time.

Closing the Assembly, Flores Diaz Pulido praised the innovative, thorough and committed nature of the event participants. “The two days have exceeded my expectations,” she said. There was still much work to be done, but she was “sure that with Galileo in your hands – all of you - it will be a success.”

For news, images and presentations from the Galileo User Assembly, click here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 the article back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The Assembly had three main parts together with ample opportunities for the Galileo user community to network. The launch of the Galileo User Consultation Platform (see separate article) and a visit to the GSC itself (see separate article) were complemented by the first Galileo Service Provision Workshop. This had its main session on the morning of 29 November and presented the observed performance of the system over its first year of service operation and plans for the evolution of the services.

Service provision workshop

The first ever Galileo Service Provision Workshop was opened by Flores Diaz Pulido from European Commission DG Grow. She had worked with Commissioner Loyola de Palacio in the early years of Galileo and was happy to see that Galileo was now a functioning reality.

Rodrigo da Costa, Galileo Services Programme Manager at the GSA, updated users on the status of the Galileo Services and the GSA. Currently, Initial Services are provided to users around the globe, with relevant information to the users published on the GSC website in real time and detailed performance of Open Service and Search and Rescue Service provided quarterly.

In addition, new ground infrastructure was in place across Europe including the Galileo Reference Centre in the Netherlands, The Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre in Toulouse and the Galileo Integrated Logistics Centre that opens 1 December in Belgium, he noted.

He also anticipated the launch of enhanced services and activities on high accuracy and authentication.

The actual performance of Galileo during Initial Service was described by Alberto Madrazo of the GSA. Overall the system had displayed high signal availability, excellent ranging accuracy – managing an average ranging accuracy during August of 0.3 metres, and a timing accuracy averaging at 9.3 nanoseconds. This compares to the Initial Services target of 30 nanoseconds. In general, the performance of the system was consistently far exceeding its defined minimum performance levels.

“The performance of Galileo, with its partial constellation and less than one year’s operational experience, is already at least as good as GPS, with its full constellation and 25 years operational experience,” claimed Madrazo.

In terms of the future he saw that the trends showed “continuous improvement that will pave the way to enhanced services.”

Reference measure

Peter Buist, Manager of the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC), also supported the quality of Galileo’s performance. The role of the GRC is to provide independent performance monitoring of Galileo and other GNSS with reporting based around a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). The GRC represented a fully independent system based at Noordwijk in The Netherlands and also receives monitoring data from other Member States.

“The GRC helps ensure that Galileo users are provided with very high-quality signals for use with an array of new navigation applications,” said Buist.

The GRC has also been nominated by the European Commission to act as the European Monitoring and Analysis Centre for Galileo as part of a joint United Nations project monitoring GNSS.

Alvaro Mozo, GSA’s Galileo Service Engineering Manager declared that “Galileo is here and working well but challenges remain.” He gave an overview of the next steps to improve the services, which rely on continuous monitoring, further infrastructure deployment and validation campaigns, while assuring service continuity at the same time.

Closing the Assembly, Flores Diaz Pulido praised the innovative, thorough and committed nature of the event participants. “The two days have exceeded my expectations,” she said. There was still much work to be done, but she was “sure that with Galileo in your hands – all of you - it will be a success.”

For news, images and presentations from the Galileo User Assembly, click here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 the article back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).