EUSPA launches GNSS and secure SATCOM user technology report

Photo: EUSPA

The European Union Agency for Space Programme (EUSPA) has released its first GNSS and secure satellite communications (SATCOM) user technology report, offering an overview of recent developments in GNSS and SATCOM. This publication combines and expands upon previous GNSS user technology and secure SATCOM market and user technology reports, offering a comprehensive look at current trends and advancements in user technology.

The report examines the satellite industry’s ongoing transformation, influenced by evolving security concerns, increased digitalization efforts, rapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and the emergence of the New Space sector. By addressing these topics, the report aims to provide stakeholders with up-to-date information on the state of satellite-based technologies.

Focusing on both GNSS and Secure SATCOM, the publication explores recent innovations in user technology, such as terminals and receivers. It also investigates potential synergies between these two fields. This approach allows readers to gain insights into how these technologies are developing in parallel and potentially converging in certain applications.

Developments and trends in GNSS technology

The report opens with a summary of the recent developments and future trends in GNSS technology that are relevant to end users. As new GNSS frequencies and signals become available for civilian applications, receiver manufacturers have been upgrading their products to accommodate satellites in medium-Earth orbit (MEO). The international coordination among GNSS supports this advancement, Radio Navigation Satellite Service, and Satellite-Based Augmentation System providers, resulting in the adoption of open access signals with compatible frequency plans, common multiple access schemes and modulation schemes.

The report states that a service-oriented approach to GNSS is emerging, building upon existing infrastructure to offer users enhanced performance and security. The European GNSS program has made significant strides in this area, backed by the recent implementation of the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) and Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) feature. The Report gives insight into emerging technologies and upcoming innovations, focusing on key trends in receiver electronics design and signal processing aimed at improving performance or reducing power consumption. Multi-frequency capabilities, PNT processing strategies and advances in antenna design are identified as key drivers shaping the future of GNSS receiver technology, according to EUSPA.

Among other topics selected, the spoofing and jamming threats are becoming a priority to be addressed both at the system and user level. Solutions such as Galileo OSNMA authentication and more resilient receivers with multiple antennas and sensor hybridization are being explored and are starting to be implemented.

Developing secure SATCOM systems

The secure SATCOM section of the Report outlines trends in the secure SATCOM domain by emphasizing enhanced performance and system management optimization. It specifically highlights how digitalization processes, cloud environments and AI techniques are enhancing performance and system management optimization in the secure SATCOM domain. It also notes the ongoing efforts to standardize the integration of non-terrestrial networks into the 5G ecosystem.

According to EUSPA, the deployment of large Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations aims to improve performance, particularly in reducing transmission latency. These systems rely on advanced user terminals capable of tracking and switching between multiple fast-moving satellites across the sky.

The report also emphasizes security in SATCOM transmissions, recognizing that satellite communications encounter similar threats from malicious signals as terrestrial communications. Consequently, both governmental and commercial SATCOM systems are being developed with a rising focus on enhancing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of both governmental and commercial SATCOM systems links.

It also describes a shift in SATCOM systems from legacy hardware-centric designs to modern software-oriented solutions. This digital transition allows user terminals to utilize multiple constellations and frequencies, which significantly improves the availability of communication links. This can help mitigate disruptions caused by natural factors or intentional interference.

Exploring potential and existing synergies

The report concludes with an examination of existing synergies between GNSS, secure SATCOM, and Earth observation (EO). Notable examples include the transmission of EO data through SATCOM systems, utilizing GNSS for operating NGSO SATCOM terminals, the complementary use of GNSS and secure SATCOM in transport and emergency management, remote sensors used by Copernicus — a European EO program — that rely on both GNSS and SATCOM and high-accuracy GNSS positioning in remote areas enabled by SATCOM.