EGNOS protects GNSS timing

During a GPS anomaly EGNOS remained stable and properly synchronised – proving just how important it is to have such a backup system. © GSA

Earlier this month, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) announced that the EGNOS time service remained stable and properly synchronised to UTC time during a recent GPS timing anomaly on 26 January. That day users of the United States GPS system experienced timing issues.

During the GPS anomaly EGNOS remained stable and properly synchronised – proving just how important it is to have such a backup system after a number of
GPS satellites broadcast incorrect UTC correction parameters.

According to the US Air Force, the coordinated universal time message that was transmitted was off by 13 microseconds. During this anomaly EGNOS, which serves as an augmentation to the GPS, remained stable and properly synchronised to UTC.