Galileo commercial service on track

The results of early proof of concept tests (EPOC) carried out by the Authentication and Accurate Location Experimentation with the Commercial Service (AALECS) show that the EPOC team has successfully tracked the encrypted Galileo E6-B and E6-C signals broadcast by Galileo satellites. As a result, the commercial service loop has been closed using both encrypted and non-encrypted signals. The tests are the result of a collective effort involving teams and projects of AALECS, supported by the European Comm
August 1, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

The results of early proof of concept tests (EPOC) carried out by the Authentication and Accurate Location Experimentation with the Commercial Service (AALECS) show that the EPOC team has successfully tracked the encrypted Galileo E6-B and E6-C signals broadcast by Galileo satellites. As a result, the commercial service loop has been closed using both encrypted and non-encrypted signals.

The tests are the result of a collective effort involving teams and projects of AALECS, supported by the 1690 European Commission, the 5810 European GNSS Agency (GSA), 6780 the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Galileo operator, Spaceopal. The European Commission launched AALECS in January 2014 and it was awarded to a consortium led by GMV including CGI, Qascom, IFEN, Veripos and KU Leuven.  As part of the AALECS project, GMV and IFEN developed an early proof of concept platform aimed at testing external data transmission through offline means. The project will last for approximately two and a half years.

During a ten-day testing period, receivers located in Spain and Germany, showed the successful tracking and data demodulation of encrypted signals from the available Galileo satellites, with periods where all satellites transmitting E6 encrypted signals were tracked simultaneously. The tests verified the Galileo commercial service (CS) signal’s encryption functionalities, with the data received containing authentication and high accuracy information previously generated outside the Galileo system. This is an essential feature to ensuring Galileo’s high accuracy and authentication services – some of which may be commercial in nature.

The Galileo commercial service will deliver a range of added-value features, including positioning accurate to decimetre level and an authentication element, both of which allow for the development of innovative applications for professional or commercial use. The Galileo CS demonstrator began its proof of concept earlier this year, with early service expected to start in 2016.

Once operational, the CS will provide access to two additional encrypted signals on the E6 band, delivering a higher data throughput rate and increased accuracy. CS addresses the authentication and high-precision market segments and will deliver innovative services with improved performance and greater added value than those obtained through the open service.

Location Based Systems

Related Content

  • August 10, 2016
    Calculating the cost of stellar solutions
    The increasing availability and accuracy of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is opening up low-cost options in many areas as David Crawford finds out. Boosting commercialisation of European global navigation satellite system (EGNSS) technologies for ITS initially depends heavily on demonstrating competitive and cost/benefit advantages obtainable from the deployment of EGNOS (the current European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), and ultimately the EU’s Galileo constellation (see box). So,
    Read More
  • February 2, 2012
    Is Europe's Galileo project value for money?
    Philippe Hamet discusses the progress of the European Union's Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System Project
    Read More
  • March 15, 2012
    Satellite based goods vehicle tracking comes a step closer
    A project aimed at proving the viability of satellite-based goods tracking in Europe has come to a close – establishing everything necessary for commercial services to flourish. A landmark stage was reached in tracking of goods across Europe in December last year, with conclusion of the Scutum project – ‘Securing the EU GNSS adoption in transport of dangerous materials’. This has validated the accuracy and reliability of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) for goods tracking and se
    Read More
  • June 6, 2014
    Euromed countries warm to Galileo’s services
    The EU is helping countries in North Africa and the Middle East utilise Galileo’s services. With its Galileo constellation rapidly taking shape, the European Union has opened lines of communication with countries in North Africa and the Middle East with a view to assisting their governments and businesses to utilise the satellite services that extend across the Mediterranean. The services available to countries are provided through the European Global Navigational Satellite System (E-GNSS), which includes a
    Read More

Highlighted Content