Will China's Compass satellites interfere with Europe's Galileo GNSS?

Since 1978 when the U.S. Defense launched the first GPS satellite into what is now known as the NAVSTAR GPS constellation, it seems there are GPS satellites going into orbit on a regular basis. In fact, you wonder if there’s enough room for them all up there.

Closely following the U.S. were the Russians who launched GLONASS in 1982 with global coverage achieved by 1991. A faltering economy meant the system fell into disrepair but in recent times the Russian government has stated that they will have it fully functional by 2010, with assistance from India.

Another player in the GNSS space is China (GNSS stands for the Global Navigational Satellite System, the correct term for describing all the navigational satellite constellations in orbit; GPS only refers to the U.S. NAVSTAR constellation). China launched its first Compass satellite in April 2007 and is planning to have it operational for mainland China by 2010. It intends to have global coverage by 2020.

Not to be outdone the European Union (EU) is developing Galileo, which promises to be the most advanced and accurate GNSS available to the public to date. It also means Europe is less dependent on the U.S.-managed NAVSTAR for critical location and navigation data. Galileo has also been touted as the first GNSS built specifically for civilians as neutral technology, for use by anyone and everyone around the world.

It will be both compatible and interoperable with the American constellation, improving the accuracy and reliability of navigation and timing signals received across the planet.

The venture is also expected to create more than 100,000 jobs in related industries across the European Union.

In more ways than one, the venture is really set to be a victory for the people.

So it’s almost ironic then that GNSS is suffering delays due to security concerns and talk of unholy alliances with countries that could be potential enemies.

Galileo had to first contend with the U.S. expressing concern that having a GNSS that (a) was more accurate than the existing NAVSTAR GPS and (b) couldn’t be blocked without blocking their own military communication channel, would be an unacceptable military threat.

Then there were the financial problems that plagued the project, but they seemed to be solved by an offer from China who contributed 230 million Euros to the project.

But now China’s involvement is more than a little awkward.

Concern over security prompted the EU to limit China’s involvement and it’s possible a disgruntled China proceeded to launch some of its Compass satellites earlier than planned to ensure it had rights to bandwidths that were originally destined to be used by Galileo, sticking the proverbial ‘sponge’ in the works and giving Galileo’s backers even more to keep them up at night.

Under International Telecommunications Union (ITU) policies, the first country to start broadcasting in a specific frequency will have priority to that frequency. Any subsequent users will be required to obtain permission prior to using that frequency, and otherwise ensure that their broadcasts do not interfere with the original nation’s broadcasts. With China’s Compass satellites to begin transmitting on the E1, E2, E5B, and E6 bands before Europe’s Galileo satellites it effectively gives them primary rights to these frequency ranges and that creates a cloud of uncertainty for Europe’s first GNSS.

So what is Europe to do to ensure that China doesn’t interfere with the radio frequencies planned for Galileo? The financial returns on the Galileo project must be defended if the project is to survive. They could acquiesce and give China Supervisory Authority, possibly reducing its need for Compass but the drawback is that this would allow Chinese companies to build Galileo ground control units, a lucrative business that Europe no doubt wants to keep to itself. It would also give them access to the encrypted, and sensitive, public-safety signals. The stakes are high, but can they afford to call China’s bluff?

What future do you foresee for the Galileo project? Will it be the next big thing in personal satellite tracking or will political differences sink it before it can even get off the ground?