CGI Nederland together with VSL have won a contract as part of the European GNSS Evolutions Programme (EGEP) and funded by the European Space Agency, to support ESA with the definition of the Galileo 2nd Generation (G2G).

The contract focuses on accurate and robust long-distance time and frequency transfer links. These are critical for the operation and performance of the Galileo ground infrastructure in at least two areas. First, to guarantee an accurate synchronization between the two Precise Time Facilities (PTFs) hosted in the two Galileo Control Centres. These control centres are responsible for the generation of the Galileo System Time (GST). Second, to guarantee the traceability of the Galileo System Time to the world-wide standard time UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) at the required level of uncertainty. This traceability is achieved by linking to local realizations of UTC by European National Metrology Institutes participating in the Galileo Time Service Provider (TSP).

The main aim of the project is to set up a testing configuration test bed for transnational time and frequency transfer using optical fibre techniques. The project has started early July 2017 and will run for 1,5 years.

The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.