Originally Posted by
ORAC
It was never intended to replace a standard GPS system, and the value in the system wasn’t the current satellites, but as stated the orbits, frequencies, licences and ground network. The issue with Galileo was in the intention of the EU to withhold access to the precision location mode and the associated encryption.
Is what you have said there, the same argument that Cummings used to convince Boris to buy at this boot sale? Because if so, you're both wrong.
Orbits - there are
no orbital slots for LEO satellites. It's currently a free for all, sothething that will become a problem before long. Nothing to buy there.
Frequencies - there was nothing to stop us registering the same frequency assignments, once the system had closed due to bankruptcy We did not need to buy the system to get them. And in any case there are still frequencoes available for our own system if we needed them.
Licensing - Once the frequencies are registered internationally, the only licences needed would be domestic ones. Just paperwork.
Ground stations - That's a different issue. If this is for a UK defence system we'd have to be a lot more careful about the location and control of the ground stations.
And I ask again - who is going to use a system that needs special-purpose ground equipment? Have the military or emergency services asked for it? They are all going over to COTS to save money.
And we don't even know exactly what this system, when completed, might do. At the moment it's all "might do", "could do", "would be nice to do".
It will come to nothing, just a waste of money.
Edit: This may be of interest regarding LEO orbits:
https://aerospace.org/sites/default/...talSlots_0.pdf