India and the European Union are all set to put the final ink on the joint participation in the ambitious 1.1 billion euro Galileo satellite navigation project during the India-EU summit being held here on September 7.
Galileo, based on a constellation of 30 satellites and ground stations providing information concerning the positioning of users in many sectors, is expected to be operational by 2008.
The agreement will ensure India's equitable participation in Galileo space, ground and user segments and will guarantee the availability of highest quality signals over the Indian territory.
India and the EU have a history of working together through the European Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
A joint press statement issued after 2004 India-EU summit had said, "Considering that India has well proven capabilities in space, satellite and navigation-related activities, the agreement will provide an important positive impulse for Indian and European industrial cooperation in many high tech areas. We express our willingness to continue our discussions with a view to conclude the agreement in the near future."