What is galileo?

Galileo is Europe’s own global navigation satellite system (GNSS). It works like the American GPS or Russian GLONASS, using a network of satellites orbiting Earth to provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing information to users on the ground.

Let's break it down

  • Satellites: About 30 Galileo satellites circle the planet, each constantly sending out a unique radio signal.
  • Ground stations: A network of control stations on Earth monitors the satellites, updates their positions, and ensures the signals stay accurate.
  • User receivers: Devices like smartphones, car navigation units, or dedicated GNSS chips pick up the satellite signals, calculate the distance to several satellites, and then determine the exact location and time.
  • Signals: Galileo transmits multiple frequency bands, which helps reduce errors caused by the atmosphere and improves accuracy.

Why does it matter?

  • Independence: Europe no longer has to rely solely on US or Russian systems for critical services.
  • Higher accuracy: Galileo can provide positioning accuracy down to a few centimeters for certain applications, better than many other GNSS.
  • Reliability: Having another global system adds redundancy; if one system is unavailable, the others can fill the gap.
  • Economic boost: Enables new services and industries (e.g., precision farming, autonomous vehicles) that need very precise location data.

Where is it used?

  • Smartphones and tablets for everyday navigation and location-based apps.
  • Automotive: Advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous‑vehicle testing.
  • Aviation: Precise approach and landing procedures, as well as air traffic management.
  • Maritime: Ship routing, port operations, and search‑and‑rescue coordination.
  • Agriculture: Guiding tractors for exact planting, fertilizing, and harvesting.
  • Emergency services: Faster location of callers and coordination of rescue teams.

Good things about it

  • Free for civilian use - no subscription fees for most applications.
  • High accuracy and reliability, especially in urban canyons and open sea.
  • Open and interoperable with other GNSS, allowing devices to combine signals for even better performance.
  • Robust signal structure that resists interference and spoofing better than older systems.
  • European control ensures data privacy and security aligned with EU regulations.

Not-so-good things

  • Still expanding - the full constellation isn’t complete yet, so coverage and performance can vary.
  • Costly to build and maintain - the program requires significant public funding.
  • Receiver compatibility - older devices may not support Galileo’s frequencies, limiting its benefits for some users.
  • Vulnerability to space weather and intentional jamming, like any satellite system.
  • Complex licensing for commercial services that want to use the high‑precision “Commercial Service” tier.