European GNSS programmes on the market of global navigation systems

Abstract

The study includes the description of development conditions for the satellite navigation programme Galileo. Its also includes some aspects of the Galileo programme accomplishment, especially its influence on the integration process in Europe and tightening the international connections. The programme has been implemented since the 1990s and its aim is to ensure the independence of the EU countries in such sectors of their economy which are based on the precise information related to location and time. Galileo has also its overregional dimension, which is the result of satellite constellation and its global reach. It is the biggest industrial project conducted within the integrated European structures. What is more, the distinction of Galileo among other European satellite programmes has its roots in its crucial strategic significance rather than in technology or investment costs. So far, the cosmologic institutions have not been formally connected with the integrated European structures, and less importance has been attached to political aspects of their projects. The transformation of the Galileo programme is proceeding in the condition of potential incomes risk from the system work. The fiasco of public and private partnership establishments was the result of differences in estimating the risk of trade incomes and market development. In 2013 Galileo will be in its full operation process and first GPS III satellites will work, what is more, the high precision of this American system and other integrated GNSS systems will establish competition in terms of commercial and amateur aplications. Widening the cooperation between the EU countries and the USA implies many positive effects, such as creating the idea of a multi-system satellite scheme, the compatibility of Galileo and GPS receivers and, what follows, the increase of navigation precision and reduction of overall costs borne by the system owners.