The European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) has awarded GMV a new framework contract for the evolution of the Galileo Reference Center (GRC). The main mission of the GRC is to carry out an independent monitoring of the Galileo system, providing the agency with detailed reports about its operation, the quality of the navigation signals transmitted and the real benefits of the different services obtained at the user level.
Located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, the GRC has been a key element in the deployment and evolution of the different services offered to users by the Galileo system. In recent years, under the direction of Euspa and with the support of GMV, the GRC has evolved to become a multisystem reference center, with the capacity to regularize Galileo’s performance, comparing them with those offered by other similar systems such as American GPS, Russian Glonass and the Chinese Beidau system.
“We are proud to continue our collaboration with Euspa and contribute to the advance of the Galileo system. The evolution towards the GRC V2 version will allow us to offer real -time monitoring services and improve the quality of navigation signals, reinforcing user confidence in Galileo, ”says Francisco Arnau, director of GMV space programs.
Evolution towards the GRC V2 version
The V2 version will provide the center with the necessary capabilities to monitor Galileo services in real time. Likewise, the evolution will allow the monitoring of additional services offered by Galileo or that are expected in the coming months, among them:
- SAS Authentication Service (Signal Authentication Service): Users will increase in the signals transmitted by Galileo.
- Time dissemination service: It will allow to synchronize with great precision the watches used in critical infrastructure.
- SAR Search and Rescue Service (Search and Rescue): Improve the response in rescue operations in emergency situations.
- EWSS emergency alert service (Emergency Warning Satellite Service): It will allow the sending of alerts to the population to natural catastrophes and other emergencies.
GMV will evolve the Galileo Reference Center
The new GRC V2 version will incorporate some key improvements in its operation, such as:
- Improvements in monitoring capacity: using multiple institutions data.
- Minimal latency: The new real -time processing will allow GRC for real -time monitoring, accelerating the generation of notices to Galileo users.
- More efficient updates: Improvements can be implemented in updates without affecting the ongoing operations, thus facilitating the continuous improvement of the center.
- Cybersecurity reinforcement: Advanced cybersecurity functions will be integrated as part of a new platform concept as a service.
With a very ambitious V2 version V2 version calendar, GMV is confident in operating the new capabilities of the center in 2026 without impact on operations.
GMV: A key actor in the Galileo program
GMV has been a key actor in the development and technological evolution of the Galileo program, introducing numerous innovations that have improved the reliability and precision of the system and consolidating it as a global reference in satellite navigation. Currently, Galileo serves more than 4,000 million users worldwide, offering precise positioning, navigation and temporary synchronization services.
This new contract consolidates GMV as a leader in positioning technologies and accelerates the progress of the Galileo program towards new standards of precision, reliability and security.
