GALILEO

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.7 / Subcat-No.7.2-2

7. Research and innovation

7.2 Technology: transport infrastructure / system

GALILEO

A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) consisting of 30 orbiting satellites, with contineous global coverage. Each location is covered by at least 6 satellites, resulting in highly accurate positioning data also in cities with high-rise buildings ("urban canyons"). Compatible with other GNSS like GPS (from USA), GLONASS (from Russia) and new systems developed by China. GALILEO provides applicable positioning data -- more accurate than GPS -- for all types of civilian applications: including car navigators, mobile phones, maritime, road, rail and air transport. Furthermore, GALILEO makes Europe autonomous and fully independent of the GPS signals. [2]
The two first GALILEO satellites have been launched in late 2011. Due to delays and cost overruns, the initial launch plan (30 operational satellites by 2014) has been reduced. The current plan involves launching a total of 24 instead of 30 satellites by 2015.

Satellite navigation applications have become very important in the European Union. It affects our daily lives. Various services depend on it to save lives (e.g. urgent ambulance calls) or to run their business effiently. GPS signal loss can therefore be disastrous. The GALILEO infrastructure offers (due to superb location coverage) highly accurate positoning, and is very unlikely to have "no signal" available. Services that depend on navigation will benefit from this.
GALILEO makes satellite navigation services suitable for safety-critical applications, like flying and landing aircraft or navigating ships through narrow channels. Other suggested implementation examples are: tracking/tracing in the medical sector (e.g. ambulances, organ transport) and/or in security and safety sector (e.g. missing children), road tolling and charging, pay-as-you-drive insurance, unmanned vehicles, precision steering guidance when sowing or harvesting crops, etc. [3] [5] [6]

The aim is a radical improvement of location accuracy and compatibility with other GNSS. Furthermore, enhancing Europe’s technological navigation independence through GALILEO's satellite infrastructure, in order to guarantee the provision of services that are nowadys central to our economy and on which our quality of life and safety depend.
Another objective is becoming independent of the GPS time signal. GPS satellites generate an accurate time signal. This signal is used by the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) network, an overarching network used in Europe for highspeed telecommunications. It provides support for all optical and electrical networks, and is indispensable for all of today’s digital electronic communications. A sudden loss of the GPS time signal will be catastrophic to Europe as e.g. GSM, broadband internet, digital television, radio broadcasting, banking systems, pay terminals, security systems rely on the GPS time signal. When this GPS time signal is lost, the services depending on it, will cease to operate or function. Becoming independent of GPS and its time signal is important to Europe's economy. [2]
The issue is, besides economic benefits (e.g. job creation due to the development role), to have full control over the system on which our safety and economy depend. These concerns systems that are essential to us. Reliance on systems from non-European countries, will eventually lead to problems of sovereignty and security. Furthermore, Europe should not be at risk from future changes in the provided service, or from excessive future fees. [1]

[1] Communication from Commission (1999): Galileo involving Europe in a New Generation of Satellite Navigation Services (COM1999/54final)
[2] European Union [2011]: Why we need Galileo (ISBN: 978-92-79-19524-2 <a href="javascript:" cref="CitaviPicker978-92-79-19524-2"><img style="border: 0px none;height: 16px;width: 16px;" src="http://www.citavi.com/favicon.ico" title='Titel anhand dieser ISBN in Citavi-Projekt übernehmen'/></a> )
[3] European Union (2010): Key results of satellite navigation research under the sixth framework programme (ISBN 978-92-79-13756-3 <a href="javascript:" cref="CitaviPicker978-92-79-13756-3"><img style="border: 0px none;height: 16px;width: 16px;" src="http://www.citavi.com/favicon.ico" title='Titel anhand dieser ISBN in Citavi-Projekt übernehmen'/></a> )
[4] European Commission (2008): Europe’s Satellite Navigation Programmes GALILEO and EGNOS (ISBN 978-92-9206-001-5 <a href="javascript:" cref="CitaviPicker978-92-9206-001-5"><img style="border: 0px none;height: 16px;width: 16px;" src="http://www.citavi.com/favicon.ico" title='Titel anhand dieser ISBN in Citavi-Projekt übernehmen'/></a> )
[5] Galileo Services (2012): Horizon 2020 & Space Research (panel presentation by Axelle Pomies on 5Jun2012, European Parliament)
[6] European GNSS Supervisory Authority (2008): Galileo and EGNOS playing a key role in Europe’s global monitoring programme