Huisman, Lennard ; Söhne, Wolfgang ; Bruyninx, Carine ; Pacione, Rosa ; Pottiaux, Eric ; Colucci, Giuseppe

Talk presented at EUREF Symposium 2026 on 2026-06-24

Abstract: EPN real-time station data and products are used for a wide range of scientific, operational, and commercial applications. Yet the goals, reliability, and sustainability of these services are under discussion. Feedback within EUREF has highlighted not only technical issues related to real-time metadata and coordinates, but also growing tensions between the open EUREF-IP data policy and the changing data policies of national and institutional data providers, which in some cases have already led to a loss of real-time station contributions to the EPN. This contribution first presents a transparent overview of the current EUREF-IP data flow, describing how real-time GNSS streams are provided by EPN station operators, disseminated via EUREF-IP infrastructure, and used by different user groups. It is emphasized that EUREFIP does not modify station data and largely operates under an open data model. The presentation then discusses challenges affecting EUREF-IP users, broadcasters, and station operators. These include the limited reliability and clarity of coordinate information in real-time streams, the coexistence of multiple reference frames for stations participating in national, European, and global networks, and the incomplete or inconsistent use of metadata standards and emerging mechanisms for expressing coordinate reference systems. In parallel, the implications of data policy mismatches between EUREF-IP and data providers are considered, along with their impact on the operational effort required by EUREF-IP broadcaster operators and large data users. Finally, the contribution outlines and compares possible future scenarios for EUREF-IP, ranging from maintaining the current approach with clearer service definitions to stricter metadata requirements or structural changes in real-time data access. Rather than proposing immediate solutions, the presentation aims to initiate an informed community discussion on realistic expectations, responsibilities, data policy alignment, and sustainable development paths for EUREF real-time services.