European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GNSS /GSA)

The GSA’s mission is to support European Union objectives and achieve the highest return on European GNSS investment, in terms of benefits to users and economic growth and competitiveness, by:

Designing and enabling services that fully respond to user needs, while continuously improving the European GNSS services and Infrastructure;
Managing the provision of quality services that ensure user satisfaction in the most cost-efficient manner;
Engaging market stakeholders to develop innovative and effective applications, value-added services and user technology that promote the achievement of full European GNSS adoption;
Ensuring that European GNSS services and operations are thoroughly secure, safe and accessible.

Vision

Satellite navigation has made major inroads in many realms of society, impacting in increasingly profound ways on business, public services and consumer behavior. Along with delivering economic benefits to innovative service providers and related businesses, satellite navigation devices, now integrated within a wide variety of vehicles and transport systems, have changed how we manage the mobility, safety and security of people and goods in fundamental ways.

For users in the general public, the next logical development will be the integration of accurate positioning devices into every mobile telephone or similar handheld device, making possible a deep transformation of the way society deals with the dimensions of time and space.

By developing a new generation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Europe is laying the foundations for new high-technology industry development, job creation and economic growth. With Europe in the driving seat, independent and self-sustaining, GALILEO has the potential to become a key part of the global navigation positioning system of the future.

Galileo is Europe’s Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS), providing improved positioning and timing information with significant positive implications for many European services and users. For example:

Galileo allows users to know their exact position with greater precision than what is offered by other available systems.
The products that people use every day, from the navigation device in your car to a mobile phone, benefit from the increased accuracy that Galileo provides.
Critical, emergency response-services benefit from Galileo.
Galileo’s services will make Europe’s roads and railways safer and more efficient.
It boosts European innovation, contributing to the creation of many new products and services, creating jobs and allowing Europe to own a greater share of the EUR 175 billion global GNSS market (Source: GSA Market Report Issue V).

A global player

Until now, GNSS users have had to depend on non-civilian American GPS or Russian GLONASS signals. With Galileo, users now have a new, reliable alternative that, unlike these other programmes, remains under civilian control.

While European independence is a principal objective of the programme, Galileo also gives Europe a seat at the rapidly expanding GNSS global table. The programme is designed to be compatible with all existing and planned GNSS and interoperable with GPS and GLONASS. In this sense, Galileo is positioned to enhance the coverage currently available – providing a more seamless and accurate experience for multi-constellation users around the world.

Mitigating risks

Satellite positioning has become an essential service that we often take for granted. Just think what would happen if GNSS signals were suddenly switched off. Truck and taxi drivers, ship and aircraft crews and millions of people around the world would suddenly be lost.

Furthermore, financial and communication activities, public utilities, security and humanitarian operations and emergency services would all come to a standstill. In other words, as the use of satellite-based navigation systems continues to expand, the implications of a potential signal failure become even greater.

With the addition of Galileo to the global GNSS constellation, we not only minimise these risks, but also ensure better performance and accuracy for the end-user.

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) leads and develops the European Satellite Navigation Programmes – Galileo and EGNOS – emblematic examples of the achievements of European Union integration and technological cooperation. Today Galileo and EGNOS are bringing real benefits to people and business around the globe. With the Declaration of Galileo Initial Services in 2016, for the first time ever, users around the world are being guided using the state-of-the-art positioning, navigation and timing information provided by Europe’s Galileo global satellite constellation.

At the GSA, we are looking for highly qualified professionals and experts ready to take up the challenges that such Programmes entail, and shape the future of satellite navigation-powered services and applications in Europe and beyond.

The GSA offers a stimulating multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, which promotes work-life balance and invests in people.