Galileo Gets Go-Ahead

The EU gave its Galileo satellite navigation system the green light this week, confirming that it would now release an extra €450 million needed to develop the Galileo system.

European Transport Ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday said the project -- which is being developed in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) -- would create 150,000 jobs and generate an income of €10 billion a year.

“This is good news for Europe... it will help Europe to maintain its autonomy, its sovereignty, its technological capacity and control of its knowledge,” the EU Commission’s Vice President responsible for transport and energy, Loyola de Palacio said.

Doubts over private investment

Up till now, the project -- which will cost a total of €3.6 billion, €2.5 billion of which will be funded by the private sector –- had been cast in doubt, as Germany, Britain and the Netherlands refused to commit domestic public funds before private investment had been assured.

Concern had also been voiced over the extent of power private firms investing in the project, would have. Now, the EU has finalised a structure which precludes private investors from sitting on the board of the firm which will eventually manage the satellite system.

Challenging GPS

A European answer to challenge the monopoly held by the United States Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo uses a network of 30 satellites and ground stations which allow users to pinpoint exact positions on the ground.

Unlike GPS, which is controlled by the U.S. military who have the power to scramble the frequencies used by the system if faced with a security risk, Galileo’s developers say it is being constructed solely for civilian use. Once it is ready, in 2008, it will be deployed in various ways from vehicle guidance systems, aiding the disabled or elderly and to geographical information systems, which can help in sea and mountain rescue operations.

But de Palacio admitted on Tuesday that giving the military access to the Galileo system had not yet been ruled out. Members of the Danish conservative government and opposition United Left Party have criticised their government’s decision to back the project, saying they doubt the system is solely a civil initiative.

More advanced technology

The European Space Agency contends that Galileo's technology will be more advanced, more reliable and more powerful than the GPS system.

Whilst GPS claims to be able to pinpoint a position anywhere in the world to within 30 metres, ESA says Galileo will be accurate to within one metre.