The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) developed by the European Space Agency, the European Commission and EUROCONTROL. It supplements the GPS, GLONASS and Galileo systems by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of the positioning data. The official start of operations was announced by the European Commission on 1 October 2009.
According to specifications, horizontal position accuracy should be better than seven metres. In practice, the horizontal position accuracy is at the metre level. The EGNOS system consists of three geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations.
The system started its initial operations in July 2005, showing outstanding performances in terms of accuracy (better than two metres) and availability (above 99%); and it was certified for use in safety of life applications in March 2011. An EGNOS Data Access Service is also available since July 2012.
Similar service is provided in North America by the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and in Asia, notably Japan, by the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS).
On 2009, the European Commission, owner of the programe, announced it had signed a contract with the company European Satellite Services Provider, to run EGNOS. As of July 2005, EGNOS has been broadcasting a continuous signal, and at the end of July 2005 the system was again used to track cyclists in the Tour de France road race.
Initial work to extend EGNOS coverage to the Southern Africa region is currently being undertaken.
Read more about European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service: Satellites, Ground Stations, Aviation
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