Galileo Update


NEWSBRIEFS – GALILEO UPDATE

Sep 2009 | Comments Off on NEWSBRIEFS – GALILEO UPDATE

INDUSTRY | LBS | GPS | GIS | REMOTE SENSING | GALILEO UPDATE

Testing Galileo applications for rail transportation

In the future, trains are to be equipped with systems that work with positioning information that is provided by satellite. This will be made possible by “Galileo”, which is to be simulated from 2010 onwards at the rolling stock Test and Validation Centre operated by Siemens Mobility in Wegberg- Wildenrath, Germany. A test area for satellitebased navigation for rail systems is already being set up there which will enable tests to be carried out under real conditions before the Galileo system actually goes into operation. By doing so, Siemens is supporting the futureoriented “railGATE” project that is being conducted by RWTH Aachen University and sponsored by the space agency of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). With testing slated to begin in 2010, Galileo is due to enter operation in 2013. www.siemens.com

China suggests solution to Compass-Galileo problem

China presented one possible solution to the impasse on frequency overlay between that country’s Compass system and the European Galileo program. In talks before the International Committee on GNSS (ICG) Working Group A – Compatibility and Interoperability (WG-A) in Vienna, Yuanxi Yang, from the China National Administration of GNSS and Applications (CNAGA) showed plans to move Compass signal modulation to binary offset carrier (BOC), with an altBOC (15, 10) open service (OS) signal in the aeronautical radionavigation band at E5b (cantered at 1191.8 MHz). Yang stated that spectral separation between the respective systems’ signals “would be beneficial for all GNSS systems and users,” while maintaining that overlapping of authorized service signals and frequencies between all GNSS “is unavoidable.” China has not yet published a signal interface control document (ICD) for Compass. www.unoosa.org

US report challenges Galileo to fulfil Level-Field commitments

A July 15 report to Congress by the U.S. Trade Representative expresses strong concern regarding the status of U.S. equipment industry access to the European Community’s GNSS program. It questions whether the EC will continue to make good on promises of open market access in a timely manner. The report appears to have reinvigorated official dialog on these issues between the United States and the European Commission that had appeared to have lapsed.In response to Congressional direction, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) submitted a report to Congress on U.S. equipment industry access to Galileo markets and Europe’s compliance with the trade provisions in the GPS-Galileo Agreement of 2004. The Office of Space Commercialization, which played a key role in negotiating the agreement and serves as the U.S. co-chair of Working Group B on traderelated issues, assisted USTR in preparing the report. Download the report here. In key passages within the report, the USTR cites “three concerns regarding U.S. equipment industry access to the Galileo program and markets: (1) lack of information on how to secure licenses to sell products and/or protect intellectual property rights derived from Galileo Open Service documentation; (2) unequal access to Galileo Open Service signal test equipment; and (3) lack of information regarding the three other Galileo PNT services.”

GALILEO frequency regulatory support

The European Commission’s Directorate- General for Energy and Transport (TREN DG) has launched a call for tenders related to GALILEO frequency regulatory support (GALIFREGS). The aim of this contract is to provide continuous technical support to TREN DG on all the frequency regulatory actions regarding GALILEO, the European global satellite navigation system, and the EGNOS. The contract will cover two main activities:
– preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) and other work developing or modifying international or European radio regulations or recommendations;
– application of radio regulations on behalf of GALILEO and EGNOS. The contractor will be expected to prepare, attend and represent TRENDG at meetings and report back on the work of individual meetings and any specific action that may be required. www.ec.europa.eu

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