On 24 July 2025, the European satellite system Galileo activated Osnma, short for Open Service Navigation Message Authentication. This free GNSS signal authentication service, announced by the European Commission, strengthens the security and reliability of smart tachographs by enabling them to distinguish genuine signals from manipulated ones. The introduction of Osnma represents a major step forward for the road transport sector, increasingly vulnerable to attempts to falsify location data, with serious consequences for compliance with driving and rest time regulations.
At the core of the new system is a digital signature embedded in Galileo's satellite signals, allowing the tachograph to verify in real time whether the signal originates from Galileo or has been artificially generated to deceive the system, as is the case with spoofing practices. The ability to certify position with certainty becomes a key factor in ensuring compliance with European regulations, preventing fraud and abuse, and guaranteeing transparent working conditions for drivers.
The second-generation smart tachograph, already mandatory on all newly registered vehicles since 21 August 2023, is technically compatible with Osnma. Until now, however, the service had only been available in trial mode. With its official activation, devices already widely used on the market, such as Continental/VDO’s Dtco 4.1a or Stoneridge’s Se5000 Smart 2 Osnma, can now receive and interpret authenticated signals, often through simple software updates. This allows the benefits of the new technology to be rapidly extended across a large segment of the European vehicle fleet, without the need to replace existing equipment.
The consequences of Osnma’s introduction are significant. Firstly, the data recorded by the tachograph becomes more reliable, being protected from external tampering. This increases the credibility of information during inspections, supporting the work of enforcement authorities and reducing the risk of penalties based on falsified records. Secondly, it offers a concrete response to the growing threat of digital falsification (spoofing), particularly in sensitive areas such as the Black Sea, the Middle East or the Baltic Sea, where satellite signal interference has become commonplace.
It is worth recalling that by 18 August 2025, all commercial vehicles used for international road transport must be equipped with tachographs compatible with Osnma. Road haulage companies are urged to act promptly: ensuring that installed devices are updated, scheduling any necessary retrofitting at authorised workshops and training personnel on the use of new functions are essential steps to avoid delays and non-compliance.
Osnma is the result of over a decade of joint work by the European Commission, the European Space Agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme and numerous industrial partners. Operational management is handled by the European GNSS Service Centre in Torrejón, near Madrid, while political and strategic coordination falls under the remit of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space.
Although the current benefits are focused mainly on the road transport sector, Osnma’s future scope is set to widen. Its adoption is already planned for civil aviation, where ICAO has launched the process of integrating the signal into onboard systems. At the same time, Galileo is preparing to introduce additional services, including PRS, intended for institutional use, and SAS, designed for more sensitive industrial applications.
