GNSS Service Center
The European GNSS Service Center (GSC) is an integral part of the European GNSS infrastructure, which is the interface between the Galileo system and the users of the Galileo Open Service (OS) and the Galileo Commercial Service (CS).
The European GNSS Agency (GSA) is responsible for the administration of the GSC.
The GSC is located in Madrid , in the facilities of the Spanish National Aerospace Institute (INTA) in Torrejón de Ardoz.
history
The European GNSS Service Center was inaugurated in May 2013 by the Vice-President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship and the Spanish Minister for Transport Ana Pastor. The center itself was named as a tribute to the former Vice President of the EC "Loyola de Palacio", the then Commissioner for Transport.
On March 17, 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was adopted, signed by the Vice President of the EC Antonio Tajani and the Spanish Minister of Transport José Blanco López. This memorandum of understanding set out the conditions and requirements for hosting the GNSS Service Centers (GSC) in Spain and for carrying out a Spanish study in preparation for the center.
The agreement for the provision of the GSC was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on February 23, 2012, in which it was stated that the global network of ground stations as part of the Galileo program comprises six centers and one station. The GSC is one of these six ground stations (MCC, GSMC, GSC, GRC).
Area of responsibility
The goals of the center are:
- Providing companies and users with general information: The GSC offers basic services for the user community via a web portal and a user help desk. A dedicated website www.gsc-europa.eu will be made available to Galileo users to answer questions.
- Distribution of timely service notices: information about the system, the system status and other messages for users.
- Support for service provision: Exchange of R&D and industry knowledge of individual market segments.
- Provision of current information and performance reports regarding the program status
- Support for application and product developers with access to market experts in key segments.
Future and development
During the "Galileo In-Orbit Validation" phase (IOV), the GSC offers a general help desk function. An upgrade was developed to support the early service phase from the end of 2014 with additional content and functionalities. A new version of the GSC will later be developed to support the commercial dissemination of data via a real-time interface from 2015 onwards. The GSC will evolve over time to be fully operational in support of the full operational capability of the Galileo Services (FOC).
First stage: GSC Nucleus and OS Helpdesk during the IOV phase
The GSC Nucleus offers a general help desk function. The main services are:
- Provision of basic services for the user community via a web portal and a user help desk.
- Exchange of R&D and industry knowledge per market segment.
- Information about program status and ICD (Interface Control Document) documents.
- Access to market experts in key segments.
Middle stage: GSC upgrade and OS helpdesk for Galileo Early Services
The GSC service for Galileo Early Services should be upgraded with additional web functionalities by the end of 2014.
Last stage: GNSS Service Center (OS and CS) at FOC
The GSC acts as an interface between the Galileo system and the Open Service users as well as between the commercial service providers and / or users. It also provides users with CS service performance reviews and notifications. The GSC is setting up a competence center for OS and CS service aspects that are accessible to users via the user help desk and the web portal. The information is made available through a communication platform, an electronic library with Galileo and GNSS reference documentation and through the ad hoc provision of specific Galileo information. The GSC supports the Open Service and Commercial Service as well as their applications.