It's pretty well apparent that Galileo is going to be the basis of a Europe-wide taxation system that will not only provide users with navigation, but will provide the governments with accurate logging of travel data.

A small receiver in each car and proximity download stations along entrances to motorways and towns will frequently update the vehicle taxation database, and money owed will be deducted automatically from the owner's bank account. This will eradicate toll booths, traffic monitoring cameras, and at some stage even speed cameras.

So which governments aren't going to scrape together the initial finance. After all the potential rewards are absolutely huge!

make sure the bloody things never pass over sovereign PRC territory.

Well, I'm glad that the funding has been sorted. You don't need agricultural subsides for not growing veg because it's valuable land for building housing and freight terminals now. As an extra bonus, gov can charge to drive on it too.

It's a really important thing. Yes, we can relay on the US to be allowed to use theirs, at great cost, but they wont guarantee not to turn it off for us at some point. Unlikely perhaps but why not be independent?

All you have to do is get the French involved in any European program to start trippling costs and winding all other members up!