Egnos stands for European Global Navigation Overlay System. The signals for the service are transmitted through three geosynchronous satellites which however are not dedicated exclusively to Egnos: According to a spokesperson of the European Space Agency (ESA), two of the satellites involved in Egnos belong to the Inmarsat communication system; the third one is the Artemis communications satellite jointly operated by Japan and the EU.

The EGNOS signals can be received by GPS receivers equipped with a specific software. In combination with Egnos signals, the accuracy of GPS navigation can be improved significantly; according to ESA, users can navigate with an accuracy of about 2 meters as opposed to GPS alone which provides an accuracy of 10 meters. The improved accuracy could trigger a wealth of novel navigation applications from aviation to agriculture and traffic management, observers believe.

Currently Egnos signals cover Western Europe, but it would be feasible to include Eastern Europe and North Africa as well, the ESA spokesperson said. The signals are compatible with a similar system used in North America.

The system is operated by a consortium embracing the ESA the EU and Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control organization. Operation is funded entirely by the EU.

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