Operations To Begin In 2008

No longer a competitor to the US GPS system, but a partner, the EU's Galileo GPS constellation is a step closer to reality, now that European transport ministers have given their okay on the project.

"This is a real technological revolution," said the European Commissioner for Transport, Jacques Barrot, in an interview with the BBC. "This will have many practical applications: direct information for emergency rescuers in case of car accidents, dynamic traffic management to help trucks avoid huge traffic jams, the prevention of natural

catastrophes such as flooding or fires, and a lot of other useful applications."

The ministers Friday approved the deployment phase of the project, meaning work can commence on the construction and launch of Galileo's 30-spaceship constellation. The cost is projected at well over $2 billion, money that is expected to be recovered by fees charged to the private sector.

This program will offer Europe a worldwide position with countries such as China and Russia using the system Galileo," said Barrot. "We estimate the creation of 150,000 jobs and a serial of industrial and technological developments."

Initially, the Pentagon wasn't at all happy with the idea of a competing GPS system, one that might interfere with its own signals and one that would prevent Washington from intentionally degrading the signals in time of war. But the US and the EU came to terms back in June, adopting compatible operating standards and allowing both to jam each others' in small areas signals during an armed conflict.

But for civilians, the benefits are huge. The advent of Galileo will vastly increase the size of the GPS constellation, allowing for better accuracy and interoperability between makers of GPS equipment on both sides of the pond.

While the first demonstration vehicle is set for launch next year, the Galileo constellation will begin taking orbit in 2008.

FMI: EU Guide To Galileo