This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7120041.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU ministers approve sat-nav deal | EU ministers approve sat-nav deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A majority of EU transport ministers have approved the multi-billion euro Galileo satellite navigation project. | A majority of EU transport ministers have approved the multi-billion euro Galileo satellite navigation project. |
| The decision was made without the backing of Spain, which had demanded that it host a ground station for the network of 30 orbiting satellites. | The decision was made without the backing of Spain, which had demanded that it host a ground station for the network of 30 orbiting satellites. |
| Ministers had until the end of the year to reach an agreement. The system is supposed to be in operation by 2013. | Ministers had until the end of the year to reach an agreement. The system is supposed to be in operation by 2013. |
| Questions remain about its cost but supporters say it will create jobs and cut dependence on the US GPS service. | Questions remain about its cost but supporters say it will create jobs and cut dependence on the US GPS service. |
| "This is going to ensure economic and strategic independence," commented EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot. "Spatial navigation is really an indication of our power amongst the countries of the world." | "This is going to ensure economic and strategic independence," commented EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot. "Spatial navigation is really an indication of our power amongst the countries of the world." |
| The EU's executive had previously said that if agreement was not reached by January 2008, the long-troubled project would essentially be dead. | The EU's executive had previously said that if agreement was not reached by January 2008, the long-troubled project would essentially be dead. |
| The current crisis was triggered by the collapse earlier in the year of the private consortium asked to build most of Galileo's infrastructure and run its services. | The current crisis was triggered by the collapse earlier in the year of the private consortium asked to build most of Galileo's infrastructure and run its services. |
| Two segment rule | Two segment rule |
| The transport ministers, meeting in Brussels, have now approved a plan to refinance the project solely from the EU budget, using spare - primarily agriculture - funds. | The transport ministers, meeting in Brussels, have now approved a plan to refinance the project solely from the EU budget, using spare - primarily agriculture - funds. |
| GALILEO UNDER CONSTRUCTION A European Commission and European Space Agency project30 satellites to be launched in batches by end of 2011-12Will work alongside US GPS and Russian Glonass systemsPromises real-time positioning down to less than a metreGuaranteed under all but most extreme circumstancesSuitable for safety-critical roles where lives depend on service Europe lofts Galileo satellite Q&A: Europe's Galileo project Galileo puts UK on map Once the 3.4bn-euro (£2.4bn) Galileo system is up and running, a private group is still likely to be asked to operate the network. | |
| The other key area to be resolved by the Transport Council concerned the division of construction contracts across Europe. | The other key area to be resolved by the Transport Council concerned the division of construction contracts across Europe. |
| Thirty satellites must be lofted into a mid-Earth orbit 26,000km above the planet. These will be supported by ground stations in Italy and Germany. | Thirty satellites must be lofted into a mid-Earth orbit 26,000km above the planet. These will be supported by ground stations in Italy and Germany. |
| The Brussels meeting adopted a six-segment approach, with no one company being allowed the prime contractor position on more than two segments. | The Brussels meeting adopted a six-segment approach, with no one company being allowed the prime contractor position on more than two segments. |
| The stipulation was designed to pacify Germany, which, as the EU's biggest financial contributor, had feared its industry would not get a sufficient share of the business. | The stipulation was designed to pacify Germany, which, as the EU's biggest financial contributor, had feared its industry would not get a sufficient share of the business. |
| "I am very confident that the German space industry will get a substantial part of the project," Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee told reporters after the deal. "There is no monopoly possible for one national industry." | "I am very confident that the German space industry will get a substantial part of the project," Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee told reporters after the deal. "There is no monopoly possible for one national industry." |
| Spanish demands | Spanish demands |
| It was the Spanish delegation which left the meeting most disappointed. | It was the Spanish delegation which left the meeting most disappointed. |
| Madrid had wanted a role in Galileo control centre activities, which will be essential to monitor the space system's health and performance. | Madrid had wanted a role in Galileo control centre activities, which will be essential to monitor the space system's health and performance. |
| But when no satisfactory compromise could be worked out during the protracted discussions, the other nations used their "qualified majority" to push through Mr Barrot's proposals. | |
| "I think that the EU, the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Portuguese Presidency are deserving congratulations for having made a major step forward with this project," said Portuguese Transport Minister Mario Lino, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. | |
| "We are now going to move on with the implementation phase and put an end to this period of disturbances that has accompanied this process in recent times." | "We are now going to move on with the implementation phase and put an end to this period of disturbances that has accompanied this process in recent times." |
| Precision clocks | Precision clocks |
| Galileo is envisaged as a rival (but technologically complementary) to GPS and touted as a key high-technology venture for the EU. | Galileo is envisaged as a rival (but technologically complementary) to GPS and touted as a key high-technology venture for the EU. |
| It is designed to improve substantially the availability and accuracy of timing signals delivered from space. | It is designed to improve substantially the availability and accuracy of timing signals delivered from space. |
| These signals already play a fundamental role - not just in navigation, but also in electricity distribution, the functioning of email and the internet, and in the security of financial transactions and many other economic activities. | These signals already play a fundamental role - not just in navigation, but also in electricity distribution, the functioning of email and the internet, and in the security of financial transactions and many other economic activities. |
| Galileo's improved clocks are expected to deepen and extend this role. | Galileo's improved clocks are expected to deepen and extend this role. |
| The better penetration, accuracy and guarantees of service promised by Galileo should also give many more entrepreneurs the confidence to build business plans around sat-nav, say supporters. | The better penetration, accuracy and guarantees of service promised by Galileo should also give many more entrepreneurs the confidence to build business plans around sat-nav, say supporters. |
| Analysts expect sat-nav applications to boom as more and more mobile phones carry receiver chips. | Analysts expect sat-nav applications to boom as more and more mobile phones carry receiver chips. |
| But there are still many in Europe who have grave concerns about the costs of Galileo, and believe the benefits have been hyped. In the UK, a group of MPs recently issued a report that was scathing about the project's management and prospects. | But there are still many in Europe who have grave concerns about the costs of Galileo, and believe the benefits have been hyped. In the UK, a group of MPs recently issued a report that was scathing about the project's management and prospects. |
| THE FIVE GALILEO SERVICES NAVIGATION Open Access This will be 'free to air' and for use by the mass market; Simple timing and positioning down to 1m Commercial Encrypted; High accuracy at the cm scale; Guaranteed service for which service providers will charge fees Safety of life Open service; For applications where guaranteed accuracy is essential; Integrity messages warn of errors Public regulated Encrypted; Continuous availability even in time of crisis; Government agencies will be main users SAR Search and Rescue System will pick up distress beacon locations; Feasible to send feedback, confirming help is on its way | THE FIVE GALILEO SERVICES NAVIGATION Open Access This will be 'free to air' and for use by the mass market; Simple timing and positioning down to 1m Commercial Encrypted; High accuracy at the cm scale; Guaranteed service for which service providers will charge fees Safety of life Open service; For applications where guaranteed accuracy is essential; Integrity messages warn of errors Public regulated Encrypted; Continuous availability even in time of crisis; Government agencies will be main users SAR Search and Rescue System will pick up distress beacon locations; Feasible to send feedback, confirming help is on its way |