Independently, the European Union is defining a system known as Galileo in order to reduce dependency on the GPS system and foster the European market, estimated to run into hundreds of millions of dollars (see Figure 10.8). The EU is considering a number of alternatives, including the possibility of using the GLONASS constellation. Present plans are to use a 21 satellite constellation placed at an altitude of 24,000 km, with a possible overlay of geostationary satellites. The target is to start operation by 2005 and to become fully operational by 2008, though the project had yet to be agreed by all signatories. One scenario is to have a GPS compatible system which would provide two complementary systems to users, with obvious benefits.
