Celebrating 15 Years of EGNOS Open Service (OS)
EGNOS Open Service: Early Years and Impact
The EGNOS Open Service (OS) was the first operational service of EGNOS, launched in 2009 by the European Commission. It marked a new era in European satellite navigation, delivering a reliable, accurate, and accessible navigation solution for a wide range of industries and millions of users.
EGNOS OS enhances the accuracy range within 1 to 3 meters by using satellite-based augmentation. This is achieved through geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations across Europe.
EGNOS OS was developed for mass-market applications, making it accessible on standard GPS devices with SBAS capabilities. This feature has profoundly impacted everyday applications, from smartphone navigation to public transportation and logistics.
In addition to improved accuracy, EGNOS boosts signal integrity by providing fast warnings if a GPS signal becomes unreliable and offering a Protection Level for position errors. This reliability, at no cost, has established EGNOS as a trusted navigation solution, serving as the foundation for other EGNOS services, including the Safety of Life service in aviation.
Operational Management
EUSPA has overseen the operational management, development, maintenance, and promotion of EGNOS since 2014.
ESSP, a pan-European company founded by seven key European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), is the EGNOS Service provider and ensures EGNOS operations and services meet high standards of performance, accuracy, and reliability across Europe since 2009.
Environmental and Economic Impact
Through precision navigation, EGNOS OS has reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and resource waste across multiple sectors, contributing to Europe’s environmental sustainability goals. Beyond cost savings, EGNOS promotes efficiency, supports economic growth, strengthens European industry, and enhances global competitiveness.
Celebrating Progress and Future Commitment
Celebrating 15 years of EGNOS OS underscores Europe’s leadership in satellite navigation, offering citizens and industries high-quality, reliable, and accessible services. This anniversary highlights Europe’s ongoing dedication to innovation, sustainability, and technological excellence.
This progress continues with the publication of the new Open Service Definition Document v3.0 (OS SDD) published earlier in November.
“EGNOS OS was just a start, opening the door to several other European Union navigation services used now in many market segments, underlining the importance of satellite navigation for the European Union,” declared Jean-Marc Piéplu, Head of EGNOS Exploitation Department, EUSPA.
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