Groups led by EADS, Eutelsat and Finmeccanica will compete for the operating concession for the planned European satellite navigation system Galileo. A fourth bid, led by German manufacturer OHB, was excluded after the Galileo Joint Undertaking, the European Union/European Space Agency body that runs the programme, decided that it lacked the financial muscle to put the system into operation. The successful bidder, to be selected in late 2004 or early 2005, will have to find the estimated €2.15 billion ($2.67 billion) needed to put the 30 satellites and two ground control stations into operation.
Source: Flight International
