Short answer
European GNSS, fully operational (FOC) since 2024. Civilian-controlled, with signals on E1 (1575.42 MHz, GPS-L1 interoperable), E5a/E5b (1176.45 / 1207.14 MHz), and E6 (1278.75 MHz, carries the free HAS PPP service).
Detailed explanation
Galileo is the European Union's GNSS, operated by EUSPA — and the only fully civilian-controlled global GNSS. The constellation maintains 24+ satellites in three 56°-inclined orbital planes at 23,222 km altitude, reaching Full Operational Capability in 2024.
Galileo's E1 Open Service shares the 1575.42 MHz centre frequency with GPS L1 and BeiDou B1C, so any L1 antenna receives all three simultaneously. E5a (1176.45 MHz) is GPS-L5 / BeiDou-B2a interoperable; E5b (1207.14 MHz) is BeiDou-B2b interoperable; E5 AltBOC combines E5a + E5b in a single 51-MHz-wide signal for advanced receivers.
Galileo introduces the HAS (High Accuracy Service) — free PPP corrections broadcast on E6-B (1278.75 MHz) — providing decimetre-level convergence in minutes without any subscription. Galileo also offers PRS (Public Regulated Service, encrypted, government-authorised) and CS (Commercial Service) overlays.
Galileo's open-signal authentication (OS-NMA) is the first GNSS to broadcast cryptographic authentication of its navigation messages — defending against spoofing attacks that have grown common since 2020. Modern receivers can verify Galileo signals as genuine before fusing them into the position solution.
Where you'll see this
High-Precision GNSS Measurement
Browse product lineRelated terms
GNSS
Umbrella term for any constellation of satellites providing global positioning, navigation, and timing. The four global GNSS systems are GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China); QZSS (Japan) and NavIC (India) are regional.
GPS
United States DoD-operated GNSS, fully operational since 1995. Broadcasts civil signals on L1 (1575.42 MHz), L2 (1227.6 MHz), and L5 (1176.45 MHz), plus restricted military M-code on L1 and L2.
PPP
A precise GNSS positioning technique using globally-broadcast precise orbit, clock, and atmospheric corrections to deliver decimetre-to-centimetre accuracy with a single receiver — no local base station required. Convergence times of 10–60 minutes for cm-level; instant for decimetre via PPP-RTK.
Anti-spoofing
Detection and rejection of false GNSS signals — typically broadcast by an attacker who wants to misdirect a receiver to a false position or time. Distinct from anti-jamming; spoofing attacks use plausible-looking signals, not raw noise, so the receiver has to authenticate rather than just power through.