As the mobile industry continues to grow, new opportunities open up for collaboration with the European space industry. Michel Bosco from European Commission, Head of Application Development for the Galileo and EGNOS programs, was present at Mobile World Congress explaining the mobile developers what are the upcoming challenges and opportunities brought by Galileo & EGNOS.

Road User Charging (RUC) is a hot topic in Europe and globally. The clear case for satellite based systems that offer a sustainable, lower cost solution and can facilitate interoperability between national and regional systems was made to the recent 10th Annual RUC Conference in Brussels on 5 and 6 March.

Belgium is making preparations for introducing a Road User Charging (RUC) scheme for heavy vehicles. This scheme could potentially be extended to all vehicles across the country in a few years time. Meanwhile a small case study in the Belgian city of Leuven has shown how a RUC scheme based on satellite technology could help relieve congestion and change driver behaviour.

Since relocating to Prague, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) has worked to engage the business community with the many opportunities offered by the EU’s space programmes. On 27 March the GSA’s HQ hosted a very successful workshop for Czech SMEs and other business organisations and individuals to present the potential of this major growth area.

By combining GNSS and EGNOS augmented positioning with airborne inertial measurements and a global gravity model, also derived from space-based technology, the Galileo for Gravity project is developing an accurate, cost effective gravimetry surveying service. This has tremendous potential for enhancing activities such as mineral prospecting and a wide range of other commercial and academic applications.

Exhibitors at the 75th Sima-Simagena International Agri-Business Show at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre from 24 to 28 of February noted an increase in demand for satellite technology installed in tractors and harvesters over recent years.

Spain is clearly keen on space technology with thousands of visitors passing through the doors of the European Space Expo in Madrid this week. The free exhibition featuring Europe’s Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus programmes was a big hit with Spanish citizens of all ages!

Augmented Satellite Navigation systems, such as EGNOS, are one of the enabling technologies for Performance Based Navigation (PBN). Implementation of PBN is a key short- to medium-term task for aviation authorities across Europe. A workshop organised by Pildo Labs in Barcelona, Spain will share best practices in developing and operating these essential procedures.

Carlo des Dorides, Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency The market for applications and services in Europe’s satellite navigation system is picking up fast as businesses latch on to its many benefits, Carlo des Dorides, Executive Director of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) told at the Intergeo Conference

Amid the bustle of the massive Intergeo trade fair and conference in Hannover, EGNOS made its presence felt.