Galileo legal process ticks over
Giove-B flies at the end of the month
The next and vital step has been taken by Europe in its quest to set up the Galileo satellite-navigation system.
EU transport ministers have approved the so-called Galileo Implementation Regulation.
This is the legal instrument that releases the 3.4bn euros agreed by finance ministers in 2007 to fund construction of the space-based system.
It means contracts can soon be awarded to establish ground stations, to build spacecraft, and provide launchers.
Competition for those contracts should be closed by December, initiating work that ensures Galileo is up and running by the end of 2013. |
The New European Internet Hot Spots
FEBRUARY 13, 2008
By Ben Macklin and Karin von Abrams, Senior Analysts
Europe is a diverse region comprising 48 countries, 27 of which are in the European Union. The region contains some of the world's Internet usage leaders, such as the Netherlands and Scandinavia, where penetration is around 80% of the population.
In contrast, countries such as Greece, Russia, Poland and Italy lag well behind the European average. But most of these nations are enjoying a surge of Internet growth. Within five years, only Russia will have less than half of its population online.
In terms of sheer size, Germany is the largest Internet market in Europe, followed by Russia and the UK, according to eMarketer’s recent estimates. |
