Galileo moves ahead

GPS World, Nov, 2004

On October 6 the European Commission (EC) adopted a communication on moving ahead with the deployment and operational phases of Galileo, the European civil-controlled counterpart to GPS. On the basis of the document's conclusions, at the end of 2004 the European Transport Council is expected to authorize initiation of these two phases that concern, in particular, funding and definition of Galileo services.

Meanwhile, the European Space Agency's (ESA's) European Space Research and Technology Centre in Nordwijk, The Netherlands, is currently testing the structural model of the first of two experimental Galileo satellites to be launched in 2005.

In its communication to the council, the EC concluded that the key conditions are now met for launching the Galileo program: establishment of management and security structures, conclusion of an agreement with the United States on cooperation in GPS/Galileo activities, definition of services, and a substantial financial contribution by the private sector.

Earlier, the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) delivered an evaluation report of the concession bids to its shareholders, the EC and ESA. Two consortia submitted tenders on September 1 bidding for the Galileo concession: InavSat, led by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS Space), Inmarsat Ventures and Thales; and Eurely, led by Alcatel, Finmeccanica, and Vinci Concessions.

The GJU evaluated bids on the basis of business and finance considerations as well as technical and contractual compliance. In its evaluation, the GJU highlighted the quality of offers presented by both consortia, which it said confirmed the commercial and financial viability of the system and related services. For deployment, the GJU indicated that the Transport Council's objective of two-thirds private and one-third public money will be reached.

Noting the similar quality of the bids and the need for futher discussion of risk allocation and financial matters, the GJU extended the competitive dialog with both consortia with the objective of selecting a preferred candidate by the end of January 2005. That's about a month later than the original deadline for a decision on the Galileo concessionaire.

Earlier this year, ESA signed agreements to launch two experimental Galileo satellites aboard Soyuz spacecraft. The first will rise from the Baikonur cosmodrome by the end of 2005.