EU opens bidding for Galileo satnav network

The 30-satellite network is meant to challenge the dominance of the US-built Global Positioning System (GPS), which is widely used in navigation devices in vehicles and ships.

The EU aims to have it up in space by 2013.

Galileo’s 3.4-billion euro (5.4-billion dollar) budget has been divided into six segments with contracts for satellites, launchers, computer programmes, ground stations, control stations and the system’s operation.

Read more: EU opens bidding for Galileo satnav network