Beyond the EGNOS System Test Bed - Providing EGNOS Services

R. Kirjner, A. Lyon, J. Westbrook

Abstract:	The EGNOS System Test Bed (ESTB), under control of the European Space Agency (ESA), has been providing an experimental EGNOS Signal In Space (SIS) since February 2000. The ESTB was based on pre-existing systems (the EURIDIS system, from the French Space Agency CNES - Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) and infrastructure. A pre-operational EGNOS Signal In Space has been broadcast since April 2003, but the full EGNOS infrastructure deployment is not yet complete. As EGNOS is soon to be a reality, the issue of operating the system and providing services to users is a challenge that Europe has to meet immediately. The European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) has been founded in April 2001 by 6 major European Air Traffic Service Providers (NATS, DGAC, AENA, ENAV, DFS and skyguide) to coordinate EGNOS Operations and provide EGNOS data services. ESSP Members have invested funds, resources and infrastructure in the development of EGNOS. The ESSP is currently coordinating its members in their preparation for operating the system. Operating the EGNOS system is a challenging task, as it implies managing a complex, distributed ground architecture, hosted by various companies. The day-to-day coordination of these Hosting Entities, which include ESSP Members, and the need to provide a safety critical Signal In Space requires detailed procedures, and more globally a clear definition of roles and tasks. The EGNOS System Safety Case will have to be further developed by the ESSP, which will also be in charge of all Safety Management tasks. Providing EGNOS services requires understanding the market and future user needs. Although ESSP members will be key users of the system in the aviation domain, EGNOS is a truly multi-modal system encompassing also the following markets: maritime, rail & road transport, personal and consumer applications with or without safety critical requirements. The demonstration of the benefits derived from the use of EGNOS will be one of the major tasks of the EGNOS Service Provider.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003) September 9 - 12, 2003 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	2777 - 2782
Cite this article:	Kirjner, R., Lyon, A., Westbrook, J., "Beyond the EGNOS System Test Bed - Providing EGNOS Services," Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS/GNSS 2003), Portland, OR, September 2003, pp. 2777-2782.
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