EGNOS, Europe’s regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), helps improve the performance of GNSS systems like GPS and Galileo. It does this by using GNSS measurements taken by accurately located reference stations deployed across Europe. All measured GNSS errors are transferred to a central computing centre where differential corrections and integrity messages are calculated. These calculations are then broadcast over the covered area using geostationary satellites that serve as an augmentation, or overlay, to the original GNSS message.
As a result, EGNOS improves the accuracy and reliability of GNSS positioning information – even during such anomalies as a solar flare. In fact, during the 24 March solar flare event, EGNOS recorded good performance. EGNOS Safety-of-life Service performance dropped slightly in the far north of Finland and Norway, down to 98%. Users in the area were more likely to notice the aurora borealis lighting up the sky than any issue with their positioning information.
Just as Solar Cycle 25 continues to ramp up, so too does EGNOS. The latest system upgrade offers increased resilience against peak solar activity, amongst other advanced functionalities.