India had signed up to the 30-satellite landmark space navigation project in September last year. The details of the Indian participation were to be completed during the just-concluded summit meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with EU leaders in Helsinki.

But the expected progress could not be made in Helsinki, sources said, adding that the Indian concerns related to the access that the satellite system will have to all manner of geographical and tactical locations in the country. Further, there were questions over how widely would the very precise data the system would provide of facilities, and even individual phone and vehicle users, be accessed.

These issues, said sources, had not been resolved at Helsinki and despite the official statement before the PM's visit, that details of Indian participation in the Galileo project were close to completion, there was a lack of progress when Indian and EU officials discussed the issues in Finland.

A major contributor to the project is China, which has agreed to sign seven contracts with EU to participate in Galileo and has committed itself to a $ 241 million investment in the project. Already, in respect to Chinese investment in projects in India relating to areas like ports and telecom, objections have been raised on security grounds.

On Saturday, the European Commission suggested, in a policy shift that sets it on a collision course with UK and the US, that Galileo might be opened up for military use.

The Independent quoted European commissioner for transport Jacques Barrot as saying that "the idea of only using Galileo for civilian purposes will not persist into the future because I think that our military cannot do without some sort of (navigation) system."

While Indian military and civilian facilities are open to satellite surveillance from US and other military-use satellites, the problem with Galileo project is uncertainty over users of the data.

earlier related report
Sibal: I am unaware of security concerns
India may walkout of the Galileo project due to security concerns. "The verification procedures for the use of data are still not to our satisfaction," said a source.

Due to be brought to fruition by 2008, the Galileo system is expected to ensure a complementarity with GPS. Its tracking of signals from a web of satellites can indicate time precisely and the project objectives state that it can enable an individual to locate a moving or stationary object within a metre.

It will work with relatively inexpensive receivers, but besides the obvious worry over "individual"users, the Indian delegation remained unconvinced that the system, which will involves private participation, can be insulated from misuse to the extent that would address New Delhi's security concerns.

Asked about the Galileo negotiations, science and technology minister Kapil Sibal said: "I am unaware of the security concerns."

Foreign office sources said that "there were issues involved which private parties would not be able to sort, they need the attention of national governments."

The system is expected to be so precise that it can zero in on a vehicle, ship or a herd of cattle. It would have applications in many civilian areas with huge commercial potential like route-mapping, speed control and guidance, aid for the elderly and disabled, in justice systems for location of suspects and border controls besides search and rescue operations.

The spinoffs for equipment and services makes participation in Galileo an attractive proposal to India, with speculation that it was ready to put $350 million on the project.

The Indian agreement to participate in Galileo was signed by G Madavan Nair, chief scientist of the ISRO and EU's representative to India Francisco da Camara Gomes last year.

It was a seal on India's intent, expressed since 2003, and its framework was to be agreed upon in Helsinki. India has launched most of its satellites through a partnership with the European Space Agency.

Source: Press Trust of India

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