The european satellite navigation system Galileo

Abstract

This paper starts with a brief discussion of the Galileo project status and with a description of the present Galileo architecture (space segment, ground segment, user segment). It focuses on explaining special features compared to the American GPS system. The presentation of the user segment comprises a discussion of the actual Galileo signal structure. The Galileo carrier frequency, modulation scheme and data rate of all 10 navigation signals are described as well as parameters of the search and rescue service. The navigation signals are used to realize three types of open services, the safety of life service, two types of commercial services and the public regulated service. The signal performance in terms of the pseudorange code error due to thermal noise and multipath is discussed as well as interference to and from other radionavigation services broadcasting in the E5 and E6 frequency band. The interoperability and compatibility of Galileo and GPS is realized by a properly chosen signal structures in E5a/L5 and E2-L1-E1 and compatible geodetic and time reference frames. Some new results on reciprocal GPS/Galileo signal degradation due to signal overlay are presented as well as basic requirements on the Galileo code sequences.