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India to participate in EU's Galileo project
By agencies
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Tuesday, 31 May 2005, 19:30 IST
BANGALORE:India will soon sign an agreement to participate in a Europe promoted satellite-based navigation system.
The EU hopes that India with its technical know-how in the satellite based technology, will significantly contribute to the Galileo satellite positioning and navigation services system that will rival the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Galileo project is a joint initiative of the EU and the European Space Agency. The EU says the growing requirements of global coverage cannot be met by a single satellite system alone.
Conceptualized in 1999, the Galileo program will cost 3.4 billion when it becomes operational in 2008. China and Israel are the other two Asian partners.
According to the official, India, with its vast geographical area, stands to benefit significantly from the Galileo project that will comprise a constellation of 30 satellites.
India had agreed to participate in the Galileo program at the end of the fourth India-EU Summit in 2003.
"With India's proven expertise in the areas of technology, it can be a major contributor of the project. India has very good capability in the areas of launching satellites," a official European Space Agency said.