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News
Issue #2002 - 14
(April 2002)
(Updated Apr.
10, 2002)
TECHNOLOGY
U.S. Global Positioning System to
Receive $1-Billion Upgrade
Once the domain of the U.S.
military, the 19-year-old Global Positioning System (GPS) has now
taken on considerable importance in telecommunications, mapping and
transportation systems.
Realizing this, the U.S. State Department has announced a
$1-billion facelift for the 24-satellite system, reported the
Government Computer News. Over the next several years, it plans to
launch new GPSIII satellites and to refine nonmilitary signal
accuracy to within three meters.
The department also said that the American government "sees
no compelling need for the Galileo [a navigation system proposed by
the European Union], because GPS is expected to meet the needs of
users around the world for the foreseeable future."
Europe dependence on the American GPS over which it has no
control places it at a disadvantage, explains Matthias Reute,
director of the Trans-European Networks for Transport program.
Recognizing this, the European Commission proposed the Galileo
project, a constellation of about 24 GalileoSat satellites that will
encircle the globe by 2008, costing an estimated 2.7-billion euros.
However, if the EU plans to press forward with Galileo, the U.S.
government expects cooperation and interoperability between the two
systems. It opposes the use by Galileo of any different radio
frequencies used by GPS and any system-driven standards that
"mandate the use of Galileo at the expense of GPS
manufacturers, service providers and users."
For more information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/rtdinfo/en/25/03.html
(Additional source Governement Computer News)
Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: It
is high time that U.S. State Department announced an uplift of the
aging GPS configuration. Not only does it serve vital American
defense requirements but it has also started serving important
business requirements now - increasingly so with location-based
m-commerce applications. We are also delighted to see European
Union put up Galileo as a backup to GPS. We do not share State
Department's concerns but agree with its desire to coordinate use of
common radio frequencies.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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