OBERPFAFFENHOFEN – The European satellite navigation system Galileo has become a serious competitor to the American GPS system since its inception. With a planned constellation of 24 active and 6 reserve satellites, of which 23 are already operational, Galileo offers global accuracy that exceeds GPS by more than a factor of 10. This precision opens up new possibilities for applications, especially in the tourism industry, where accurate location determination for navigation and services is crucial.
In Asia, where the tourism sector plays a vital role in the economy, Galileo can contribute to improving the travel experience. For example, Galileo’s high accuracy enables improved route guidance for tourists, which is particularly useful in densely populated cities or remote areas. In addition, the integration of Galileo into mobile applications, such as smartphone apps, allows tourists to receive real-time information about local attractions, simplifying travel planning and enriching the travel experience.
Thus, the European satellite navigation system Galileo has established itself as a cornerstone of global positioning, convincing with unprecedented accuracy and reliability. Since its full commissioning, Galileo offers global accuracy within a few centimeters, particularly enabling Asian customers to set new standards in a variety of applications.
The People’s Republic of China, which has already invested 280 million euros in the project, is using Galileo for a joint satellite navigation training center at Peking University. India, which was originally involved with 300 million euros, sees Galileo as an opportunity to strengthen and further develop its own infrastructure in the field of satellite navigation.
GALILEO IS FAR SUPERIOR TO THE GPS SYSTEM
Galileo’s superiority over GPS is also evident in the support of search and rescue services, which are essential for the safety of tourists in emergencies. With Galileo’s Search And Rescue (SAR) service, rescue forces can respond faster and more accurately, which can save lives. Furthermore, agriculture benefits from more precise data for the navigation of agricultural machinery, leading to more efficient farming and reduced environmental impact.
The complete deployment of the Galileo satellites is a gradual process that will ensure the system’s full operational capacity. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), as of April 2024, 30 satellites are in orbit. Full operational readiness will be achieved once all satellites have taken their final positions and are functional. This will further improve the availability and reliability of the system and open the door to new applications and services.
For the average consumer, this means that using Galileo through a smartphone app will significantly improve location accuracy. Since January 2023, three frequency bands have been made available to all users free of charge and unencrypted, enabling accuracy to within a few centimeters. This represents a significant improvement over GPS, which offers an accuracy of about ten meters in its public version. The implementation of Galileo in consumer devices will revolutionize navigation in everyday life and is a crucial step towards a connected and precise world.
With the ongoing development and expansion of Galileo, Europe will consolidate its position as a leading force in satellite navigation and simultaneously improve global connectivity and security. Thus, Galileo is not just a navigation system, but an instrument that will change the way we explore and interact with the world. (zai) – Photo: ESA