from: VOA.com

Currently, the only worldwide player in the field is the United States. Its
Global Positioning System networks allow users to measure distances and
positions with great precision.

While the U.S. initially maintained that an additional navigation system
would be unnecessary, SSTL Chief Executive Officer Martin Sweeting
disagrees.

"It is quite important that Europe has an independent capability on this,"
he said. "To be reliant just on one system, particularly if it is a military
system, does not make a lot of sense. Europe's economy is really bound up in
satellite timing and you know, navigation is just one of the applications."

The U.S. and EU have agreed to make the two systems compatible.

Professor Chris Snowden from the University of Surrey says China's
participation in the program is significant.

"China is going to become a world power in its own right and we see that
developing as inevitable that will happen," he said. "I think that it is
actually important that Europe engages in this also to maintain its
position."

The idea is to test this prototype and another to be launched later in 2006.
If the scientists are then satisfied, some 30 satellites are envisioned
being sent into to orbit to form the basis of the navigation network.

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 22:05:28 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 21:44:29 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:

I've read that it will be, but I'm not as sure about compatibility. As
I understand it, they are not going to use the same standard timing
signals/algorithm as the US system, but I'm not sure of that. I had
thought that the ITU had enforced a universal standard, but I can't
find anything to verify that.

Hopefully, it will be compatible.

================================

It would be nice but frankly I doubt it. That would not be
Euro-centric enough to justify the cost.

They could even elect to encrypt the signal and require paid
subscriptions like premium channels on satellite TV.

I tried looking it up on the ITU site, but couldn't find it.

It seems like I read about it a few years ago when they first proposed
their own system. There was some discussion about frequency
compatibility, similar algorithms, etc., but one of the WRC
conferences established that the US system was the best and the
Europeans were just going to augment what was currently in place much
like they do with the EPIRB system.

I can't find any data that says that though, so it might not be.

Maybe it is an addendum to the Russian GLONASS system?