Galileo Open Service (OS)
Galileo’s Open Service (OS) is a free Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) service for global users. It is embedded in almost all smart devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, wearable health devices, in-vehicle navigation devices, and many more. Any device requiring precise positioning or navigation continuously communicates with PNT satellites such as Galileo.
Enabled devices pick up signals from orbiting satellites to triangulate your position, telling you where you are and helping you get where you need to go. Galileo OS, operational since 2016, is the world’s most accurate system, with accuracy down to around 1 metre.
In July 2025, Galileo OS was augmented with the Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), which allows devices to automatically authenticate signals received from the satellites.
OSNMA technology is unique to Galileo. Galileo users with an OSNMA-enabled receiver will be informed whether the received signal is authentic.
Other Galileo services
The service that provides precise positioning down to 20cm, for professional applications that need extra accuracy in positioning and navigation such as construction, geodesy, agriculture, drones or autonomous cars.
The service that helps saving lives ! It detects distress signals sent by emergency beacons and provides the location of this beacon to the rescue teams.
A secure, encrypted service available to government-authorised users only designed for sensitive applications including in the domain of defence. PRS ensures reliable service even if other navigation systems fail or are disrupted.