The International GNSS Service (IGS) is a voluntary federation of over 200 self-funding agencies, universities, and research institutions in more than 100 countries. It’s a service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and is a critical component of the IAG’s Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS).
The IGS provides high-precision GNSS data and products openly available to benefit science and society31. It operates a global infrastructure of tracking stations, data centers, and analysis centers. The foundation of the IGS is a global network of over 500 permanent and continuously operating stations of geodetic quality. These stations track signals from GPS, and increasingly also track signals from GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC (IRNSS) as well as space-based augmentation systems (SBAS).
The IGS develops and publicly releases standards, guidelines, and conventions for the collection and use of GNSS data and products. It also facilitates cost-effective geometrical linkages with and among other precise geodetic observing techniques, including Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), and Doppler Orbitography and Radio Positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS).
The mission of the IGS is to provide the highest-quality GNSS data, products, services in support of the terrestrial reference frame; Earth observation and research; Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT); and other applications that benefit the scientific community and society.