Eight satellites from five different member states are currently being pooled as part of GOVSATCOM. The Commission hopes this is the first step towards less dependence on the US - whose own communication systems are a lot more mature. #EuropeNews

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[+] 50 points 8 months ago* (2 children)
  • [–] 18 points 8 months ago* (1 child)

    Note that they agreed on this almost a decade ago[^1]. Whether or not it is about Trump, I am happy about greater independence for Europe, too! There is also Galileo (GPS alternative) and IRIS2 (for governmental, business, and private communication. Sort of an alternative to Starlink) and a few others out there[^2].

    [^1]: EUSPA; GOVSATCOM is one of the elements of the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy of June 2016. The Programme will contribute to the EU’s response to specific threats and will provide support to the EU Maritime Strategy and the EU Arctic Policy. ; https://www.euspa.europa.eu/eu-space-programme/secure-satcom/govsatcom.
    [^2]: EU Space; https://eu-space.europa.eu/.

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  • [+] 15 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)
    [removed by mod]
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  • [–] 7 points 8 months ago (9 children)

    We should also stop using GPS, as that's controlled by US military.

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  • [–] 45 points 8 months ago (5 children)

    Despite commonly using the term "GPS", people are usually not using GPS directly, but GNSS, which includes satellite systems from USA (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), China (BDS) and the EU (Galileo). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_navigation

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  • [–] 24 points 8 months ago (4 children)

    Also GPS is oneway, so there is no way for the US to spy on people with it. They can however block regions as a form of sanctions, so you should never rely on it.

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  • [–] 9 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    Not just block, but alter the coordinates, which is even more malicious.

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    I mean, what are they gonna do? Mess with the atomic clocks and throw off everyone's ability to geolocate? Probably not, since then everyone would just move to the still-accurate signals from the European and Chinese equivalents.

    ...or do you just not understand how GPS works?

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  • [–] 6 points 8 months ago

    You will find this European satellite communication system quite operational . . . MuWuHAHAhahahahaaaaa

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago

    Canada is launching 146 LEOs in late 2026...or not, they are being launched by SpaceX, or not.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago

    Has anyone found which eight satellites?

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