EC Studies New Ways to Benefit from Galileo Satellite Navigation System

December 8, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

The European Commission (EC) adopted a green paper on satellite navigation applications to make maximum use of the opportunity provided by the upcoming launch of the European Galileo system. With the advent of Galileo, new impetus will be given to the worldwide market for satellite navigation, positioning and timing services. These are expected to bring new prospects to various commercial sectors and improve the daily life of citizens around the world. While boosting the development of new applications by European industry, Galileo is also expected to create many jobs across the European Union (EU).

This new green paper gives all interested stakeholders an opportunity to provide their opinion on the development of satellite navigation applications and, in particular, on the role the public sector could play in creating an appropriate framework and defining concrete targets for such applications.

Galileo will offer positioning, navigation and timing services starting in 2011. To date, one Galileo experimental satellite is already in orbit and a second one will follow in 2007. Galileo claims to be more advanced, more efficient and more reliable than the current GPS (the U.S. Global Positioning System). The satellite navigation market, in which Galileo will play an important role, has been forecast to be €400 billions by 2025. New satellite navigation applications continue to be developed, covering all walks of life and sectors of the world economy.

EC vice president, Jacques Barrot, commissioner in charge of transport, said, "The real value linked to the costs and efforts undertaken to bring Galileo into orbit is that it presents a unique opportunity for new applications, economic growth and job creation in the European Union. These economic returns are many times higher than the costs of the system itself."

Satellite transmission is now a fact of life in telephony, television, computer networks, aviation, shipping and many other areas. The range of applications open to the Galileo system is extremely varied and the number of potential spin-offs immense. Its profitable applications will spread into many areas of our lives, from safe and efficient transport (aviation, maritime, road, rail and even pedestrian) to crisis and emergency management, to applications in various commercial sectors (such as precision farming, security of online financial transactions, optimal transfer of electricity along power lines and tourism).

The green paper sets out the frame in which satellite navigation applications are being developed. In particular, it intends to stimulate a discussion among interested parties and prompt new ideas on the possible tasks of the public sector to support the development of such applications. Questions in the green paper cover such topics as applications development, privacy and ethical issues, and the regulatory environment.

The public consultation will last four months and will take place through the EC's standard web-based instruments. In parallel, a contest for young inventors will be launched to promote innovative ideas on the use of satellite navigation technologies and services. In September 2007, the EC will summarise the results of the public debate and develop an action plan containing the practical measures that will be proposed as from 2008.

Background
Galileo is Europe's satellite radio navigation programme. It was launched on the initiative of the EC and developed jointly with the European Space Agency. It will prepare for the development of a new generation of services in areas such as transport, telecommunications, agriculture and fisheries. Galileo is optimised for civil applications and will be administered and controlled by the EU institutions as its owner. Galileo will offer a guarantee of quality and continuity that is essential for many applications. It is complementary and interoperable with the current GPS, and the combined use of the two systems will significantly increase the reliability and availability of navigation and positioning services worldwide.

For more information, read the Green Paper on Satellite Navigation Applications.

Source: European Commission.