From: Ad 

George Sherwood wrote:
> On Tue, 22 May 2007 19:27:59 +0500, George Sherwood wrote:
>
>> Ad wrote:
>>> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/17/galileo_is_military/
>>>
>>> A civie system with mil users vs a mil system with civie users....
>> I think this says it pretty good for me.  I don't think this system is
>> going to make it.
>>
>
> And my prediction moves a little bit closer.
>
> http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/08/business/projects.php?page=1
>
> European governments failed to agree Friday on how to salvage their
> troubled satellite navigation system, Galileo, adding to doubts about
> their ability to continue to fund "grand European projects" like the
> European rival to America's Global Positioning System.
>
> This quote doesn't bode well either:
>
> "When there is an industrial ambition, the way it is structured as a
> process should be driven by the operational aim of the endeavor," said
> Nicolas VŽCron, a research fellow at the Bruegel economic research
> organization in Brussels. "If you add aims such as supporting European
> champions it becomes complicated and fails."
>
> George

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6734507.stm

"EU governments have agreed that the troubled Galileo satellite
navigation network needs to be built with public funds if it is to get off
the ground.

The project, supposed to showcase Europe's technological prowess, has been
hit by delays and cost overruns.

But transport ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Friday put off tackling
the question of where exactly the new taxpayer money will come from.

The four billion euro (ƒœ2.7bn) system is supposed to be functional by 2012."


"Agreeing that the project "would need additional public
funding" to be operational by 2012, the ministers tasked the EC with
working out financing details before their next meeting in October.

German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee told journalists Galileo was
of "colossal importance" to Europe, adding: "We must prove
our worth in this field of technology in competition with the United
States, Russia and Asia."

The Galileo system is expected to drive a huge industry in which receivers
find their way into many more markets - from consumer devices such as
mobile phones to safety-critical applications such as guided trains and
buses. "

Ah well.. we could always find the cash by reducing EU country commitments
in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Adam

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