The fifth meeting of the group of European Union (EU) administrations associated to the European satellite radionavigation system known as Galileo - the GLS group - met in Paris on 16 September.
Participants in the meeting summarised Galileo-related results from the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC03) and also reviewed the status of information for early publication, co-ordination and/or filing of broadcasting systems by satellite (RNSS) in the Radiocommunications Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R), debated the issue of annual free entitlements and differences between the GLS member States and the ITU?s Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) on this matter and reviewed the situation of EU-United States of America bilateral talks on Galileo and the global positioning system (GPS).
A brief presentation was made of WRC03 results; it was stressed that same were very positive for Europe, which saw most of its proposals accepted. Regarding differences between the GLS member countries and the BR over the right of member States to claim a free entitlement under decision 482 of the ITU Council, the BR holds that only filings corresponding to the year 2000 (year early publication) and 2003 (year of invoice submission) are considered to be free entitlements, while the consortium member countries hold that 2001 and 2002 are also covered by that decision. The president of the Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) said that the next step would eventually be to wait for the next ITU Council meeting in order to clarify in that body the European interpretation of decision 482.
A brief oral report was presented on bilateral talks between the EU and the USA, highlighting the fact that the American side has problems with the regulatory instruments to co-ordinate radiocommunications systems, specifically the trigger for co-ordination between space stations and the subject of Public Regulated Service (PRS). Regarding the project?s progress in the European Space Agency (ESA), mention was made of plans to launch a test prototype (MSATNAV constellation) in June 2006, in order to ensure frequency priority.
The next meeting has been scheduled for 16 March 2004, also in Paris.
