GMV to support the advancement of the Galileo Reference Centre

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has awarded GMV a framework contract to advance the Galileo Reference Centre (GRC), a key facility for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the Galileo satellite navigation system. Located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, the GRC independently assesses Galileo’s operations, signal quality, and user-level service performance and compares its performance with that of other GNSS.

The upcoming GRC V2 version will introduce real-time monitoring capabilities, enhancing EUSPA’s ability to oversee GNSS services. This evolution will support additional Galileo services, including:

• Signal Authentication Service (SAS): Strengthening trust in Galileo signals.
• Time Dissemination Service: Enabling precise synchronization for critical infrastructure.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): Improving emergency response operations.
• Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS): Facilitating public alerts for natural disasters and emergencies.

Key operational improvements in GRC V2 include:

• Enhanced monitoring using data from multiple institutions.
• Real-time processing for faster user notifications.
• Seamless system upgrades without disrupting operations.
• Advanced cybersecurity measures integrated into a platform-as-a-service model.

The upgraded GRC is expected to be operational by 2026 without impacting ongoing functions.