United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

Providers Forum

A Providers Forum was established at the second meeting of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) in Bangalore, India, with the aim to promote greater compatibility and interoperability among current and future providers of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The current members of the Providers Forum, including China, India, Japan, the European Community, the Russian Federation and the United States, addressed key issues such as ensuring protection of GNSS spectrum and matters related to orbital debris/orbit de-confliction.

First Meeting of the Providers Forum, Bangalore, India, 4 September 2007

• Joint Statement by the Second Meeting of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) (PDF format in English only)
• Report of the First Meeting of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) Providers Forum (PDF format in English only)
• Online Presentations made at the Providers Forum held in conjunction with the Second ICG Meeting

Second Meeting of the Providers Forum, Vienna, Austria, 18 February 2008

• Online Presentations (Updates on systems and cooperative activities among providers) made at the Providers Forum held on the margins of the 45th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria, 11- 22 February 2008

United States of America

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a United States space-based radio-navigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and timing services to users on a continuous worldwide basis-freely available to all. The outstanding performance of GPS over many years has earned the enduring confidence of millions of international users. With its ongoing modernization programme, GPS will continue to provide superb quality and performance in the future.

The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) augments GPS over the North American territory to provide the additional accuracy, integrity and availability needed to enable users to rely on GPS for safety-critical applications, particularly in the field of aviation.

Available Online Resources

• United States White House Press Statement (18 September 2007): " Removal of Selective Availability (SA) in future GPS satellites"
• Letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on United States Commitment to GPS, WAAS, 10 September 2007 
• Website: http://www.gps.gov

Russian Federation

The Russian GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS), navigation satellite system is based on a constellation of active satellites which continuously transmit coded signals in two frequency bands that can be received by users anywhere on the Earth's surface to identify their position and velocity in real time based on ranging measurements. In the future a third frequency for GLONASS signal transmission will be introduced. In some areas of application, the use of combined GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO constellation appears to be preferable option.

The System of Differential Correction and Monitoring (SDCM) is intended for development and real-time transfer of the adjusting information for GLONASS, GPS and GALILEO systems (integrity data, wide-area and local correction data) to civilian customers. It is expected that SDCM based on GLONAS/SGPS signals will provide increased (in comparison with basic level) accuracy of position determination in real time at any point in the Russian Federation.

Available Online Resources

• Website: http://www.glonass-ianc.rsa.ru

European Community

The European Satellite Navigation System (GALILEO), an initiative launched by the European Commission and the European Space Agency, will be a global navigation satellite system, owned by the European Community, providing highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning services under civilian control. The Galileo Open Services signal will be interoperable with the GPS civil signal, as well as with GLONASS.

The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) providing service for safety critical applications in Europe. As a first element of European GNSS capabilities, EGNOS will be integrated in the GALILEO programme.

Available Online Resources

• Website: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/

China

The existing three-satellite COMPASS/BeiDou navigation system has played an important role in offering efficient positioning, timing, communication services and differential GPS information in surveying, telecommunications, transportation, meteorology, forest fire prevention, disaster forecast and public security areas. On the basis of the COMPASS/BeiDou Navigation Test System, China has started to build a system with global coverage.

India

The GPS aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN/IRNSS) has been taken up with an objective to demonstrate the Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) technology over the Indian region. It is planned to be an operational system to provide a seamless navigation facility in the region, which is interoperable with other SBASs. Although primarily meant for civil aviation, it is beneficial for the other users.

Japan

The Multi-functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT) is one of the SBASs (Satellite-based Augmentation System) compliant with ICAO SARPs. The system provides navigation services for all the aircraft within Japanese airspace via two geostationary satellites (MTSAT-1R and MTSAT-2). The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), promoted by Japan, is the Asian and Oceanic regional system that will serve as enhancement for GPS. QZSS was designed so as to guarantee that at any time at least one of its three satellites is close to the zenith over Japan.

Nigeria

With its Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat-1), Nigeria is the first African country planning to enter the field of GNSS with the NigComSat-1 SBAS.

Technical Parameters