Qualinx partners with EU Space Agency to develop a GNSS receiver

This collaboration, part of the Fundamental Elements EU R&D funding mechanism, aims to develop a consumer-grade, low-power GNSS receiver for EUSPA's GNSS authentication service. The Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) service, offered for free, ensures users that their data originates from Galileo satellites. This service was initiated to counteract the increasing incidents of spoofing by malicious entities, which have been disrupting GNSS services. Qualinx was selected for this project by EUSPA following a rigorous 6-month evaluation process.

Qualinx's innovative Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) technology revolutionises wireless chips by converting most analog functions into digital circuits, which can be customised for each application via software. This technology enables a significant power reduction – up to ten times compared to traditional GNSS receivers. This not only extends the battery life of navigation devices but also allows for smaller, more cost-effective packaging solutions.

Tom Trill, Qualinx CEO, said: “This partnership with EUSPA is a powerful endorsement of Qualinx’s DRF technology and the benefits it delivers in GNSS applications. Our relationship with EUSPA developed via the European Commission’s CASSINI initiative to support space-related, deep-tech startups. This project is a perfect fit for DRF. It will keep Qualinx at the leading edge of next-generation GNSS technology and we’ll deliver robust, reliable, low-power GNSS receivers for this vital security service.”

On behalf of EUSPA, Fiammetta Diani, head of the Market, Development and Innovation unit added: “Qualinx's proven core technology and adaptability without significant hardware redesign were a crucial factor for low-powered consumer-grade receivers building on our innovative OSNMA service. We look forward to partnering with them to bolster Galileo's service resilience for all users."