GPS vs GLONASS vs Galileo: The Constellations

We use the term "GPS" like we use the word "Kleenex"—as a catch-all brand name for a much larger category of technology. The actual scientific term for satellite location tracking is GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System).

GPS is simply the American version of GNSS. Today, your smartphone likely talks to multiple different international constellations simultaneously to pinpoint your location.

1. The Big Three Networks

Depending on where you are on Earth, and what phone you own, you are receiving signals from these distinct networks:

• GPS (United States): Originally developed by the US Department of Defense. It consists of about 31 active satellites and is the baseline for global navigation.
• GLONASS (Russia): The Russian equivalent to GPS, featuring 24 satellites. Modern smartphones combine GPS and GLONASS signals to increase accuracy, especially in high northern latitudes where GPS coverage can be slightly weaker.
• Galileo (European Union): A newer, highly advanced civilian system funded by the EU. It became operational in 2016 and offers incredibly high precision, often resolving locations down to a single meter.
• Note: China also operates a massive global network called BeiDou, and regional systems exist in India and Japan.

2. LEO vs. MEO (Low Earth vs. Medium Earth Orbit)

A common misconception is that location satellites are relatively close to Earth, hovering right above the clouds like weather balloons or internet satellites (like Starlink).

In reality, GNSS satellites are pushed far out into Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). They need to be incredibly high up so that each satellite can broadcast its signal to a massive portion of the Earth's surface at once. Use the visualizer below to see the sheer scale of this distance.

3. Why Your Phone Uses "Multi-GNSS"

Inside your smartphone is a tiny, highly sophisticated receiver chip. Ten years ago, these chips could only read American GPS signals. Today, almost all modern chips are "Multi-GNSS."

This means when you open TellMyLocation.com, your phone is actively scanning the sky for American, Russian, and European satellites all at the same time. By locking onto 10 or 15 satellites across different networks instead of just 4 GPS satellites, your phone dramatically reduces its "Circle of Uncertainty," giving you pinpoint accuracy even in dense forests or concrete urban canyons.