SES provides managed services for Galileo

SES will provide a series of services for the Galileo European navigation system under a long-term agreement signed with Spaceopal, SES announced today.

Left to right: Ruy Pinto, Chief Information Officer, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of SES André Bauerhin, Chief Operating Officer, Spaceopal Nicole Robinson, SVP Global Government at SES Networks Etienne Schneider, Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy

Left to right: Ruy Pinto (SES CIO), André Bauerhin (Spaceopal COO), Nicole Robinson (SES Networks SVP Global Government) and Etienne Schneider (Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy)

The contract is part of the Galileo Service Operator (GSOp) framework agreement between Spaceopal – a joint venture between Telespazio and DLR GfR mbH – and the European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency (GSA). Read more…

EU legislation: Europe’s 2 satellite navigation systems moving forward

Summaries of EU legislation: The Summaries of EU legislation inform on the main aspects of the European legislation, policies and activities in a clear, easy-to-read and concise way. These Summaries are intended for a general, non-specialized audience.


This regulation lays down the rules for the European satellite navigation programmes Galileo and EGNOS.

Regulation (EU) No 1285/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 683/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council Read more…

100 million users for Galileo navigation system

The Galileo satellite navigation system has about 100 million users after its first year of operation, as per the French Space Agency CNES.

The system, which is highly crucial to Europe, went operational in December 2016. It took 17 long years to be ready for launch. Initially the services it provided relayed a weak signal, and some of the timekeepers on the satellites did not function as two satellites were arrayed in the wrong orbit.

But, since then, additional satellites have been added, and by 2020 Galileo is supposed to offer enhanced accuracy than GPS, focusing on a location to within a meter, instead of several meters earlier. Read more…

The great opportunities of the Galileo satellite navigation system

Galileo is a state of the art navigation system with unique features not found in any other system.

Operational since 2016, it’s designed to offer free of charge commercial, mass market, governmental and search and rescue services. Read more…

Galileo Reference Centre now officially open. Linking Space and User Needs

Galileo Reference CentreThe official inauguration of the Galileo Reference Centre took place on 16 May 2018 in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The Centre represents another crucial Galileo Programme element now in place, supporting the provision of services to the core system and its users.

Speaking at the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC) inauguration event in Noordwijk, which also comprised a short seminar, Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s DG GROW said, “I love the slogan: ‘Linking Space and User Needs’. This is exactly what we want – new services based on space systems, bringing these services to new consumers, which means economic growth and more jobs for European citizens.” Read more…

White Paper on using GNSS Raw Measurements on Android devices

Using GNSS Raw Measurements on Android devicesA White Paper published by GSA provides developers with in-depth information on accessing and using GNSS raw measurements with Android, to implement advanced GNSS techniques in mass-market devices.

Google’s announcement that GNSS raw measurements would be made available from Android 7.0 devices (i.e., Nougat) marked the first-time developers had access to carrier and code measurements and decoded navigation messages from a mass-market device. Read more…

Next Galileo launch begins processing in French Guiana

Two of the four Galileo satellites shown inside the S1A payload preparation facility. VA244

Two of the four Galileo satellites shown inside the S1A payload preparation facility. VA244

Payload preparations have begun for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission in support of Europe’s Galileo global navigation system, with two of the four satellites for launch on this July 2018 flight now undergoing their checkout at the Spaceport.

These two spacecraft arrived at French Guiana’s Félix Eboué Airport earlier this month aboard a 747 cargo jetliner, and were then unloaded and transported by road to the Spaceport’s S1A payload preparation facility. The third and fourth Galileo satellites will be delivered to the equatorial launch base in June. Read more…