The United Nations is home to the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) which was meant to improve relations among states.  This article describes how the ICG promotes transparency and cooperation among states in regards to their satellite systems.  The ICG looks to allow everyone to utilize the services of satellite navigation systems, especially to assist under developed countries and their infrastructure.  This committee is essential to improving relationships among states by working to make space technology more transparent and available.

International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG)

Mission Statement

The International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG), established in 2005 under the umbrella of the United Nations, promotes voluntary cooperation on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing, and value-added services. The ICG contributes to the sustainable development of the world. Among the core missions of the ICG are to encourage coordination among providers of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), regional systems, and augmentations in order to ensure greater compatibility, interoperability, and transparency, and to promote the introduction and utilization of these services and their future enhancements, including in developing countries, through assistance, if necessary, with the integration into their infrastructures. The ICG also serves to assist GNSS users with their development plans and applications, by encouraging coordination and serving as a focal point for information exchange.

Vision Statement

The International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) strives to encourage and facilitate compatibility, interoperability and transparency between all the satellite navigation systems, to promote and protect the use of their open service applications and thereby benefit the global community. Our vision is to ensure the best satellite based positioning, navigation and timing for peaceful uses for everybody, anywhere, any time.

At the “United Nations International Meeting for the Establishment of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG)” held on 1- 2 December 2005 in Vienna, Austria, the ICG was established on a voluntary basis as an informal body for the purpose of promoting cooperation, as appropriate, on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing, and value-added services, as well as compatibility and interoperability among the GNSS systems, while increasing their use to support sustainable development, particularly in the developing countries. The participants in the meeting agreed on an establishment of the ICG information portal, to be hosted by UNOOSA, as a portal for users of GNSS services.