The European Union and the U.S. have resolved their differences over Galileo and GPS, the satellite positioning and navigation technologies.

The two governments have signed an agreement allowing the systems to work side by side without interfering with one another.

“This agreement will allow the European project Galileo to become the world standard for civil and commercial use of satellite navigation; it will offer the best possible level of services to all users," said European Commission VP Loyola de Palacio.

The agreement ends four years of talks, and should ease the design and manufacturing of satellite navigation systems.

"Users of satellite radio-navigation will be able to simultaneously, with only one receiver, use one or the other of the two systems, or both at the same time," said the EC.

Market potential for satellite navigation is said to be around three billion receivers per year and revenues of $303 billion (250 billion euro) by 2010. The launch of Galileo could create 150,000 jobs in Europe alone, said the EC.

Galileo currently has two satellites under construction, with launch scheduled for 2005, and two shortly after. Deployment of the remaining 24 satellites and ground is expected by 2008.

By: DocMemory
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