6th Dec 2005 17:21
Inmarsat PLC06 December 2005 6 December 2005 Inmarsat plc Inmarsat to lead Galileo system operations Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellitecommunications, announced today that an agreement has been reached confirmingInmarsat as the lead company overseeing the system operations of Galileo, theEuropean Union project to develop a new, advanced satellite navigation system. Galileo will be implemented through a Public Private Partnership by a consortiumled by many of Europe's leading satellite operators and aerospace companies. Under an agreement signed yesterday by the eight European companies that formthe Galileo concessionaire, or Galileo Operating Company (GOC), Inmarsat willhave overall management leadership in the newly-formed Galileo OperationsCompany (OpCo). OpCo will be responsible for Galileo's and EGNOS' global network operations,including performance monitoring and operations security. OpCo is intending tosub-contract various services from its main investors, including Inmarsat formanagement, engineering and procurement support. There will be two GalileoSatellite Control Centres, to be located in Germany and Italy, additionalsafety-critical facilities in Spain, and a global network of various othermission-required sites. Like Inmarsat, OpCo will have its headquarters inLondon, UK. Commenting on the agreement, Patrick McDougal, director for the Galileo projectat Inmarsat, said: "We are delighted to play such a central role in Galileo. Wehave been an active participant in the process to develop a privately-backedsolution for Galileo implementation, with a strong focus on value-for-money. Wehave been determined to apply to Galileo many of the experiences andefficiencies we have learned in 25 years of successful global satelliteoperations. This agreement validates our involvement and ensures that we willcontinue to play an important role in this exciting project." For more information, please contact:John Warehand, PR Manager+44 20 7728 1579 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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