EUROPEAN COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 24 July 2013
Green light for European GPS: Successful Galileo position
fix
Green light for European satellite navigation: Today in a public demonstration in Fucino,
Italy, European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani announced a successful position
fixi on the basis of the EU’s current four Galileo satellites. This position fix of longitude,
latitude and altitude is concrete proof of the ability of Galileo - the European Commission’s
programme to develop a global satellite navigation system under European civilian control
- to provide highly accurate positioning data of cars or other objects. Tajani also
announced that further satellite launches will bring first services by the end of 2014. They
will result in an improved GPS signal and - with more precision, coverage and availability
of satellite navigation signals - a whole new array of business opportunities will arise. As
the benefits of Galileo are becoming tangible, providers of services and products using
data from Galileo need to start preparing for these future market opportunities right now.
(MEMO/13/718)
European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and
Entrepreneurship, said: “Today is a great day for European Satellite Navigation. The
positioning accuracy achieved with only four Galileo satellites is a demonstration of
European industrial competence. It is also an important step towards the launch of first
services in October 2014. Every day users will be able to enjoy improved satellite
navigation, and new business opportunities will open up. This is what we dearly need in
the current economic situation.”
More information on Galileo
IP/12/729
Position fix relies on an entirely new European infrastructure
The position fix was obtained by using the four Galileo satellites launched in October 2011
and 2012, and the Galileo programme’s ground infrastructure, which includes the control
centres in Italy and Germany and the global network of ground stations.
A minimum of four satellites is required to make a position fix in three dimensions. The
four satellites of the Galileo constellation are currently visible from the Earth at the same
time for only a maximum two to three hours daily – meaning that a position fix can only
be obtained during this period. The frequency of position fix availability will increase as
more satellites are deployed and additional ground stations become operational.
Benefits of Galileo satellite navigation positioning
Galileo will allow users to know their exact position in time and space, just like the USA’s
GPS, but with greater precision and reliability. It will be compatible and, for some of its
services, interoperable with GPS and Glonass (Russia), but independent from them.
High level of accuracy
By placing satellites in orbits at a greater inclination to the equatorial plane, Galileo also
achieves better coverage at high latitudes, making it particularly valuable to users in
northern Europe, an area thus far not well covered by the USA’s GPS alone. In addition,
the Galileo signal's enhanced properties make it easier to acquire and track, and more
resistant to interference and reflections.
Business opportunities
Galileo and the space industry in general presents a huge opportunity for Europe, not just
for the everyday lives of European citizens and companies delivering the space
infrastructures but even more for downstream industry, the people who develop
innovative services using Galileo data. Galileo creates a range of new business
opportunities for equipment manufacturers, application developers and providers of
‘reliability-critical' services.
Some derived services could, for example, help avoid car crashes, help visually and motor
impaired people navigate, expedite the transport of dangerous goods, survey costal water
depth and facilitate intelligent salt-spreading during the winter (MEMO/12/601).
Civil protection and security
Tajani also said that the public sector itself is a potential customer for the applications of
Galileo, especially with regard to the areas of civil protection and security. The future
Galileo Public Regulated Services (RPS) can be used by emergency services, critical
transportation, energy or for telecom and defence purposes. Tajani said that potential
users do not yet know sufficiently these advantages of Galileo.
Governments will restrict the PRS to authorized users and for sensitive applications that
require a high level of continuity. The PRS will use robust signals which are encrypted and
resistant to jamming.
Galileo will be ready to roll in 2014
Galileo’s operations will start by the end of 2014, but the complete infrastructure is due to
be finalised later.
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European Space Expo
The European Space Expo is a travelling exhibition which underlines how space and
satellite navigation activities have a direct impact on citizens' daily life. Over 30,000
applications rely on space technologies. Visitors of all ages can see, touch and experience
the wide range of innovative technologies and services that space offers to them.
World expo will showcase space applications
The World Expo 2015 in Milan from 1 May to 31 October 2015 under the theme "Feeding
the Planet: Energy for Life" will showcase how space and satellite navigation applications
can help to address to the planetary debate on food and sustainability.
Contacts :
Carlo Corazza (+32 2 295 17 52) @ECspokesCorazza
Sara Tironi (+32 2 299 04 03)
Position fixing determines the position of a ship, aircraft or person on the surface of the
Earth
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