The Spanish technology multinational GMV has reached an important milestone after being selected by the European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) to develop a new version of the High Precision Data Generator (HADG, for its acronym in English) within the framework of phase 2 of development of the Galileo High Precision Service (HAS). This service, a pioneer at a global level, is the first to offer free corrections for precise positioning in real time to all users of the system. The first version of HADG, also developed by GMV, is currently used operationally to provide users with the Initial Service (phase 1) of the HAS.
The new contract, with a duration of up to 45 months and a budget of up to 12 million eurosincludes the design, development, deployment, start-up support and, optionally, maintenance of a new improved version of the HADG. This new version will also incorporate the new functionalities required to provide the services provided in phase 2 (Full Service) of deployment of the HAS service.
Specifically, the new version of the HAS data generator will allow:
- Improve the level of performance of Service Level 1 (SL1): the deployment of a new version of GMV’s magicPPP® algorithms for the calculation of precise corrections, and the expansion of the earth station network will allow it to offer global coverage and improve the accuracy and availability of the SL1 service.
- Implement a new Service Level 2 (SL2): this is a new regional service that will be available only in Europe, and that through the transmission of atmospheric corrections will reduce the convergence time required to achieve maximum precision at the user level.
- Implement new functionality for the authentication of HAS corrections transmitted through the Galileo constellation, thus increasing user security and trust in the service.
Since 2020, GMV has led the development of the Galileo HAS service correction generator after the award of the first contract with the EUSPA. Since its operational launch in January 2023, Galileo’s HAS service has revolutionized positioning services, offering unprecedented accuracy for advanced applications in sectors such as navigation, agriculture, geodesy and autonomous driving. In the new contract, GMV maintains its role as main contractor and leader of an industrial consortium in which experts in atmospheric modeling from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) participate. and cybersecurity specialists Sidertia. In the words of Miguel Romay, general director of GMV Satellite Navigation Systems: «The new contract to evolve Galileo’s HAS service consolidates GMV’s commitment to technological excellence and its leadership capacity in key projects for Europe. This achievement reinforces GMV’s role in Galileo and allows the company to continue innovating to offer transformative solutions that benefit society.”
GMV has become a key player in the development and technological evolution of the Galileo program since its inception. The company has provided numerous innovations that improve the reliability and precision of the system, thus contributing to positioning Galileo as a world leader in satellite navigation. Today, Galileo, the European Union’s global navigation satellite system, serves more than 4 billion users worldwide, offering precise positioning, navigation and time synchronization services. This new contract reinforces GMV’s position as a leader in positioning technologies, and drives the progress of the Galileo program towards new standards of precision, reliability and security.
We must not forget the importance of the aerospace sector in Spain. According to the latest data from the Spanish Association of Defense, Security, Aeronautics and Space Technology Companies (TEDAE), the space business reached 1,964 million euros, contributing 1.2% of industrial GDP. Furthermore, these are companies that need highly qualified jobs, hence the importance of their development and export capacity.