Inmarsat has signed an agreement with Geoscience Australia to support a collaborative research project.

The project is aimed at achieving enhanced positioning accuracy and integrity by augmenting signals from multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) over the Australian continent.

The research project is scheduled to run for two years and it will see Inmarsat deploying the transponder on-board its L-band Asia Pacific (APAC) Region satellite, Inmarsat-4 F1 (I-4 F1), to provide the space component of the Second Generation Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) Testbed.

According to Inmarsat, GNSS signals are critical tools for industries requiring exact precision and high confidence.

For the first time anywhere in the world, this project will demonstrate how the use of signals from multiple GNSS, i.e. GPS and Galileo, and SBAS signals broadcast on dual frequencies (GPS L1 and L5), can achieve enhanced navigation performance in terms of user positioning integrity and accuracy.

While basic global navigation satellite system signals are sufficient for some user applications for timing, positioning and navigation purposes, Inmarsat believes further augmentation is required to meet more exacting requirements.

“Being part of this innovative research project is testament to our important heritage on satellite navigation matters,” says Claudio Soddu, Inmarsat VP for Navigation and Special Projects.

“A second generation SBAS testbed is a natural continuation of the concept of augmenting satellite navigation systems with a separate satellite data and ranging channel that we helped pioneer.

Having previously been involved in testbeds and operational systems in other regions of the world, this collaboration showcases our capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region and potentially opens the door to further research and development projects in the future.