Galileo FOC FM1. Photo: ESA

[Via Satellite 11-20-13] The European Parliament has approved the financing and governance of two European satellite navigation programs: Galileo and EGNOS, from 2014 to 2020. Their total budget of 7 billion euros ($9.47 billion) will be used for the completion of the satellite navigation infrastructure, operations, necessary replenishment and replacement activities, development of fundamental elements such as Galileo-enabled chipsets or receivers, and the provision of services. Responsibility for the progress of the programs and their overall supervision will stay with the Commission.

“The overall economic impact of Galileo and EGNOS is estimated to be around 90 billion euros ($121.73 billion) over the next 20 years. In addition to the opening up of new business opportunities, also every day users will be able to enjoy increasingly accurate satellite navigation services with every new satellite launch,” said Antonio Tajani, EC vice president, commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship.

Galileo is expected to begin providing services toward the end of 2014, and is expected to be fully operational by 2020. EGNOS, the European Satellite Based Augmentation System, has been fully operational since 2011. It works to increase the accuracy of the U.S. GPS positioning. The European GNSS Agency will gradually assume responsibility for the operational management of the programs while the ESA will remain responsible for the deployment of Galileo, and the design and development of new generation of systems.