Press Release: Commission continues to upgrade EGNOS for higher positioning accuracy

Many EU citizens may have noticed the improvement in the accuracy of GPS signals over the past three years, thanks to the enhancement provided by EGNOS the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, which is owned and managed by the European Union.

As part of the actions undertaken by the European Commission to upgrade and maintain the EGNOS system, a new EGNOS transponder was launched on 9 July 2012 on board an SES satellite from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The new transponder will replace the one currently aboard an Inmarsat satellite. It will continue to provide higher accuracy positioning signals to both citizens and professionals using an EGNOS-enabled GPS receiver.

Europeans have already benefitted from these improved positioning signals since October 2009. In addition, since March 2011, air carriers with a certified receiver aboard their aircraft can use EGNOS for en-route navigation and precision approaches, enabling safer landings and more energy-efficient flights.