Who operates it
- SAPOS (Satellitenpositionierungsdienst der deutschen Landesvermessung) is Germany’s official CORS network, operated by the state surveying authorities of the federal states (Länder).
- SmartNet Germany, operated by Leica Geosystems, provides commercial RTK corrections.
- RTK Direct is a private subscription-based RTK service.
- TopNETlive, operated by Topcon, offers global GNSS correction services, available across Germany.
Availability & access
- SAPOS provides different levels of service: HEPS (High-Precision Real-Time Positioning), GPPS (Real-Time Positioning for GIS), and GPPS/GPPS-Post for post-processing. Services are offered at low or no cost depending on the federal state and user category.
- SmartNet, RTK Direct, and TopNETlive are subscription-based commercial services, requiring user registration and paid plans.
Coverage & scale
- SAPOS covers all of Germany with several hundred stations, forming one of the most comprehensive government-operated CORS infrastructures in Europe.
- Commercial networks (SmartNet, RTK Direct, TopNETlive) ensure additional coverage and redundancy, especially for private-sector users.
- All networks are integrated with European reference frameworks (ETRS89, EUPOS).
Typical use cases
- Cadastral surveying and property registration.
- Engineering and infrastructure projects, including highways, tunnels, and railways.
- Agricultural machine guidance and precision farming.
- GIS mapping, environmental monitoring, and scientific research.
How it’s used in practice
- Surveyors connect GNSS rovers to SAPOS, SmartNet, RTK Direct, or TopNETlive via NTRIP for real-time corrections.
- Post-processing is supported with RINEX data from SAPOS and commercial networks.
- Machine control systems in construction and agriculture integrate corrections directly into guidance software.
Notes
- SAPOS is recognized as one of the most advanced and reliable CORS systems in Europe.
- Commercial networks provide added flexibility, customer support, and integration with branded GNSS equipment.
Coverage Map
