Products & Solutions

GALILEO

Named after the Italian astronomer of the early 1600s, development of Europe's GALILEO Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) began in 1999. In cooperation with the European Space Agency, the European Union Transports Committee plans to begin transmission of first satellite navigation signals in 2005. A network of 30 satellites will continuously transmit high-frequency radio signals, containing time and distance data that can be picked up by any GALILEO receiver, allowing the user to pinpoint their position anywhere on Earth.

GALILEO is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of positioning and navigation applications with unparalleled precision and a guarantee of signal continuity and reliability, even in extreme latitudes. As a key component of the second phase of development of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), GALILEO is scheduled to be fully operational in 2008.

EU ministers of transport have given the green light to the development phase for GALILEO. The 30-satellite network will be operational in 2008, allowing for precise positioning for air, sea and road traffic management, urban and in-door positioning as well as off-shore applications. Global satellite navigation is an exciting technology, providing enhanced productivity and accuracy in a vast number of industries and adding a new level of enjoyment and safety to a wide range of navigation, sports and recreational activities.

For more information on Thales Group and its involvement in the GALILEO project click here.