Ionosphere monitoring and inter-frequency bias determination using Galileo: First results and future prospects Original Research Article

We present first results of using the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Galileo for determining the Total Electron Content (TEC). Furthermore, we describe a calibration technique which can be used to determine GNSS inter-frequency and inter-system biases along with calibrated TEC. This technique is demonstrated by analysing two sets of data. The first data set covers Europe using GPS and GLONASS data provided by IGS ground stations, and GPS and GIOVE (Galileo In Orbit Validation Element) data collected by GIOVE sensor stations (GESS). The second data set uses GPS and GIOVE data from a global network of GESS. We find that the inter-frequency and inter-system biases are stable within the accuracy of the reconstruction and that the TEC values reconstructed from GIOVE data are compatible with TEC values obtained from GPS and GLONASS data. The RMS of the GIOVE-A/B inter-satellite biases, determined over a period of one month, is found to be below 1 TECU.