EGNOS
EGNOS service improves satellite navigation accuracy and reliability across Europe. Used in aviation, agriculture, and maritime operations, it plays a vital role in ensuring safety, especially under challenging conditions.
EGNOS in a nutshell
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is Europe’s regional satellite navigation system, making GPS, and in the future Galileo, signals more accurate and reliable.
This is especially useful for sectors where safety is important, such as aviation and maritime, where reliable and precise location is critical to minimize risks and loss of human life.
Ground stations in Europe monitor signals from GPS satellites and detect any errors. These errors are then processed in near real time, to generate an EGNOS augmentation signal. The EGNOS signal is then uplinked to at least two geostationary satellites, that broadcast the correction information and integrity alerts back to users’ devices. This whole information loop occurs in less than 6 seconds, and allows planes, ships, and tractors to get more accurate and reliable positioning. EGNOS will also provide corrections to the signals sent by Galileo soon.
Why is EGNOS important for our Union?
EGNOS was the European Union’s first venture into satellite navigation and laid the foundation for the Galileo system we rely on today. While EGNOS supports a wide range of sectors, from agriculture to transport, its benefits for the aviation sector are particularly remarkable. EGNOS has fundamentally changed the way we navigate the skies, making flying across Europe safer, more accessible, and more efficient.
EGNOS improves the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of satellite navigation signals. For pilots and airports, this means aircraft can be guided safely during approach and landing, even with limited visibility of the runway due to cloud coverage: EGNOS provides guidance to the pilot down to 200 feet above the runway, after which the pilot takes the decision to land or not. This precision matches the capabilities of expensive ground-based systems but without the need for that infrastructure. The result is improved safety, fewer delays and diversions, reduced cancellations, lower fuel consumption and emissions, and cost savings for airlines and airport operators. Today, over 600 of European airports use EGNOS-based procedures.
EGNOS also benefits maritime navigation through the Safety of Life Assisted Service for Maritime Users (ESMAS). ESMAS provides tailored guidance for ships entering harbours, approaching ports, and navigating coastal waters in the EU and neighbouring contributing countries. By improving accuracy and reliability at sea, it enhances safety for crew, passengers, and cargo, supporting smoother and more efficient maritime operations.
Governance
EGNOS is owned and managed by the European Commission, while EUSPA is responsible for the exploitation of EGNOS system and the EGNOS system itself is operated by ESSP, a private company certified under the Single European Sky regulation by EASA to provide Air Traffic Navigation service.
What does the future hold for EGNOS?
A new, more powerful system called ‘EGNOS V3’ is currently under preparation. It will strengthen both Galileo and GPS signals, resulting in an even better user experience.
The European Parliament and the Council are currently working on new legislative proposals from the European Commission, in particular the proposal for a European Competitiveness Fund Regulation (2028–2034) covering satellite navigation.
EGNOS services
EGNOS Data Access Service (EDAS) provides ground-based access to EGNOS data through the Internet in near real-time. With a controlled access system, EDAS allows users to connect to a variety of services which provide raw GPS, GLONASS, and EGNOS data, plus EGNOS augmentation messages.
EGNOS Open Service (OS) provides free and accessible use of EGNOS services to any user equipped with a GPS/SBAS-compatible receiver.
The EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) assisted service for Maritime Users (ESMAS) is the first Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) service tailored to maritime users.
The EGNOS Safety of Life (SoL) Service improves the accuracy and reliability of GPS, and soon, Galileo, and provides timely alerts when navigation performance degrades.
Frequently Asked Questions
An SBAS, or Satellite-Based Augmentation System, broadcasts corrections and system integrity alerts to users of the GNSS systems, so that it improves the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of GNSS signals like GPS and Galileo. EGNOS is the SBAS for Europe. Other countries operate SBAS systems too.
EGNOS is an augmentation system that improves existing satellite navigation signals, while Galileo is a full satellite navigation system that provides positioning on its own. EGNOS cannot work alone: its job is to enhance the GPS and in the future Galileo signals.
EGNOS covers Europe and parts of North Africa. The EU territory and contributing countries like Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland are covered. Geographical areas located at the edge of the satellite footprint (e.g. above 72 ° North) have limited service availability.
Yes, EGNOS services are free to use for everyone.
EGNOS is especially critical for safety-of-life applications in aviation and maritime operations. , It is also used in agriculture, transport, and other sectors where precise positioning is important.