China's Satellite Navigation Plans Threatens Galileo

New Scientist ^ | 11-8-2006 | PaulMarks

[blam]

China's satellite navigation plans threaten Galileo

13:34 08 November 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Paul Marks

China's decision to expand the functionality of its satellite navigation network could undermine the economics of Europe's nascent Galileo system, according to sources close to the project.

Until now, experts believed that China's "Beidou" navigation system – a 35-satellite constellation – would only be used by its armed forces. This explained China's decision to invest €200 million in Europe's €2.5 billion Galileo programme.

But things appear to have changed in Beijing. On 2 November, the country's official news agency Xinhua reported that Beidou would, from 2008, begin providing an "open" level of service, with 10-metre accuracy, in addition to its "authorised", encrypted military service.

Precisely how open this 10-metre service will be, remains unclear, but the Xinhua report implied that it would be available free to all Chinese citizens and to other countries whose governments strike a deal to use the signal in satellite navigation devices.

Commercial plans If this is true, it could be a big problem for the Galileo consortium, which had hoped to recoup part of its €2.5 billion investment in Galileo by selling receivers and commercial signal subscriptions in China.

"But if Beidou offers a free non-military service inside China then that idea goes out of the window," says a source close to the Galileo project, who spoke on condition of anonymity, due to the geopolitical sensitivity of the issue.

It is not clear whether there are sufficient frequencies for Beidou to be used globally. But new agreements may be needed to ensure receivers are compatible with all three navigation standards: Galileo, the US-run Global Positioning System, and Beidou. "We would have to have a complete reworking of the cooperative agreements...

[middie]

''The name is Bond, James Bond.''

[xcamel]

might be fun to shoot them down with the ABL....

[xmission]

ABL? Tell me that it's a laser, like they've been pointing at out birds...

[unkus]

Is this some of the technology that Clinton gave the Chinese?

[xcamel]

That would be the one...

[xmission]

Nice!

[diesel00]

From article:

But the irony in China's move was not lost on Michael Shaw, from the US government's National Space-based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Coordination Office in Washington DC. "Frankly, China's behaviour towards Europe is not so different to how Europe behaved with us when GPS was the only game in town a decade ago," Shaw says.

[middie]

Haven't any idea what it is----

[annie laurie]

Ping of possible interest

[ccmay]

But new agreements may be needed to ensure receivers are compatible with all three navigation standards: Galileo, the US-run Global Positioning System, and Beidou.

There are actually four of these. The Russians have GLONASS too.

-ccm

[editor-surveyor]

This article is nonsense.

The GPS system is available at 1 meter with a $300 receiver, and 10 meters with a $50 unit. How could Europe hope to make any significant profit in Asia, where those GPS units are manufactured?

[ffusco]

Yes, Clinton allowed the Chinese to have technology that allowed them to go from simple point and shoot ballistic missilies to the ability to place payloads in an orbital plane- thus enabling them to place an nuclear warhead anywhere on the globe. TREASON pure and simple.

[editor-surveyor]

"Is this some of the technology that Clinton gave the Chinese?"

Multiple vehicle guidance is what Klinton gave them.

[steel_resolve]

Europe - thy name is treason. How do you like your just desserts? Tasty? Good. When the horde sweeps across your continent, and you desperately seek our help, don't wonder why none is forthcoming. You made your bed and chose your side. Your day is coming to pay up, and this is but a harbinger of things to come...Pity Europe...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[unkus]

Thanks

[RightWhale]

Europe just had to have their own GPS. They just had to have their own jumbojet industry. They might consider returning to hand-carved wood bobbleheads as a primary industry.