As AMSA reported in the past, due to the increased accuracy of GPS and introduction of other global positioning constellations, like GLONASS, GALILEO and Beidou, its Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) service is no longer needed. As a result, AMSA will discontinue DGPS system from the following summer, specifically on 1st July 2020.
At the moment, GPS is one of the several Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), offering accurate Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) data to vessels fitted with modern GNSS receivers.
Modern GNSS receivers further provide integrity monitoring of positioning, navigation and timing information. Those receivers are now a standard installation onboard the majority of the ships.
Moreover, the accuracy and integrity that modern GNSS technology provides, is from now on suitable for safe navigation in Australian waters.
For the records, DGPS is a ground-based GPS augmentation system, operating in the 285 to 325 kHz frequency range. It was first presented back in the 1990s, in order to advance the accuracy and integrity of GPS information for ships navigating off the coast of Australia.
In light of the situation, AMSA has issued the reasons why discontinues the system, while highlighted which factors are going to be impacted.
